As Morocco lifts the curtain on the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 tonight against Comoros , attention in Rabat stretches beyond the opening ceremony to a parallel storyline unfolding within the Uganda Cranes camp , one of resolution, refocus and renewed ambition.
On the eve of the tournament’s kickoff, the Cranes returned to the training pitch after a brief but significant standoff that saw Saturday’s session called off. A group of seven players had asked head coach Paul Put to suspend training until outstanding bonuses from previous competitions were addressed. Following talks with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), the issue was settled, allowing preparations to resume just days before Uganda’s Group C opener.
Uganda are set to begin their eighth Africa Cup of Nations finals appearance against Tunisia on Tuesday night in Rabat, before facing regional rivals Tanzania and continental heavyweights Nigeria in a demanding group that leaves little margin for error.
The Cranes’ return to training comes as Morocco officially launches the continent’s biggest football spectacle at a sold-out Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, where all 69,500 seats have been snapped up for the hosts’ opening clash. Morocco enter the tournament chasing a first AFCON crown since 1976, buoyed by home support and growing continental expectations.
Off the pitch, the tournament marks a turning point for African football governance. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has confirmed a rise in AFCON winners’ prize money to USD 10 million, alongside a shift to a four-year tournament cycle after the 2027 and 2028 editions. CAF also plans to roll out the African Nations League in 2028, a move aimed at increasing competitive football across the continent.
Earlier this week, the spirit of the tournament was on display with the inauguration of the AFCON 2025 Fan Zone at the Université Internationale de Rabat, bringing together students from over 45 African nations in a celebration of unity through football.
As Morocco’s opener signals the official start of AFCON 2025, Uganda’s focus sharpens on Tuesday night , where cohesion, calm and concentration will matter just as much as talent on a stage that rarely forgives late distractions.
