TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (Group C)
Fixture: Tunisia vs Uganda
Kick-off: 11:00pm (EAT)
Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Rabat, Morocco: Uganda Cranes begin their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 journey with a tough Group C opener against Tunisia on Tuesday night, hoping to rewrite history against one of Africa’s most consistent football nations.
This will be the third AFCON meeting between Uganda Cranes and Tunisia, with the North Africans having won the previous two encounters. Tunisia beat Uganda 3–0 in the 1962 third-place playoff and followed it up with a 3–1 victory at the 1978 tournament which Uganda finished runners-up to champions Ghana.
Overall, Tunisia have dominated the head-to-head record, winning six of their meetings with Uganda, scoring 16 goals and conceding just once. Their most emphatic victory was a 6–0 win in 1999, a match in which current Tunisia head coach Sami Trabelsi featured as a player.
Uganda arrive in Morocco determined to change that narrative. AFCON 2025 marks their eighth appearance at the continental showpiece and their first since 2019. Their best performance remains the historic 1978 tournament, where they finished runners-up after losing the final to Ghana.
The Cranes have traditionally struggled in opening matches at AFCON, though they broke that pattern with a win in 2019. Head coach Paul Put, who brings vast AFCON experience, will be banking on tactical discipline, experience, and leadership, especially from returning veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango, now 40, whose presence adds calm and authority at the back.
Tunisia, meanwhile, remain one of Africa’s heavyweight nations. They have qualified for every AFCON tournament since 1994, a continental record, and lifted the trophy on home soil in 2004. However, recent tournaments have seen them struggle in opening fixtures, failing to win their first match in their last five AFCON appearances. Trabelsi will be eager to reverse that trend against Uganda.
Adding an intriguing subplot is Ugandan midfielder Travis Mutyaba, who plays his club football in Tunisia with CS Sfaxien. His familiarity with several Tunisian players could offer the Cranes valuable insight as they seek a positive start.
As Group C action gets underway, Uganda will be aiming not just for points, but for belief—while Tunisia seek to assert their dominance early. The stage is set for a compelling AFCON opener.
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