Football

Uganda Cranes wrap-up AFCON qualifiers with victory in Congo

Uganda Cranes Forwards Rogers Mato (7) and Travis Mutyaba (10) celebrate the visitor's only goal against Congo Brazzavile on Tuesday Evening (Photo/FUFA Media)

Brazzaville, (CGO): Uganda Cranes returned to winning ways on Tuesday evening to wrap up the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a lacklustre 1-0 victory against Congo in the Group K final fixture.

Cranes forward, Jamal Travis Mutyaba who plies his trade for Girondins de Bordeaux in France fired Uganda into the lead after 55 minutes in what was more of a dead rubber for the already qualified Cranes but had to bounce back from the South Africa defeat four days ago.

Uganda finishes Group K with 13 points, their record tally in a qualification campaign, one behind table-toppers South Africa (14) who also trounced South Sudan 3-0 in Johannesburg, in the other Group K closing fixture to maintain their top spot.

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Cranes coach Paul Put made a host of changes to the starting Xi that fell to South Africa, with experienced Taddeo Lwanga dropped after his slip at Namboole allowed the visitors to score inside the six-yard box.

Lwanga was replaced by SC Villa’s Ronald Ssekiganda, while Timothy Awany, Aziz Kayondo, Allan Okello and Jude Ssemugabi made way for Halid Lwaliwa, Isaac Muleme Jamal Mutyaba and Calvin Kabuye respectively, the latter making his full debut for the national side.

Despite losing skipper Khalid Aucho inside 10 minutes, the Cranes held firm under pressure from the hosts, ensuring a clean sheet and a winning end to their group stage campaign.

GROUP K Final Standings
1. 🇿🇦 South Africa 14pts
2. 🇺🇬 Uganda 13pts
3. 🇨🇬 Congo 4pts
4. 🇸🇸 South Sudan 3pts

Cranes XI vs Congo; Ismail Watenga (GK), Kenneth Semakula, Isaac Muleme, Halid Lwaliwa, Bevis Mugabi, Khalid Aucho (C), Ronald Ssekiganda, Travis Mutyaba, Denis Omedi, Calvin Kabuye, Rogers Mato

Uganda now looks ahead to the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

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