Uganda Cranes have begun their journey in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a major away fixture against Tunisia on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
The match is being played at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00pm local time in Tunisia, equivalent to 10:00pm East Africa Time.
Uganda has been preparing in Tunisia, where 15 players had reported to camp earlier in the week. Head coach Paul Put has been working with the squad as the team prepares for a demanding qualifying schedule.
The Cranes’ squad combines experienced players with younger footballers as the technical team continues its preparations for the 2027 tournament. Captain Denis Onyango brings considerable international experience, while the squad also includes several emerging players.
Coach Paul Put acknowledged the quality of the Tunisian side before the match and described the fixture as an important test for Uganda. He said the team had trained with discipline and focus and wanted to compete strongly against a highly experienced opponent.
The fixture is part of Uganda’s preparations for AFCON 2027, which will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The qualifying campaign therefore carries particular significance for the hosts as they build toward the continental tournament.
After the Tunisia match, Uganda is scheduled to return home to face Libya at Hoima City Stadium on Tuesday, September 29. The team will then have further fixtures later in the qualifying programme, with Matchdays Three and Four scheduled for November and the final two rounds planned for March 2027.
The Cranes are also expected to play friendly matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Johannesburg in October. The games will provide additional opportunities for the technical team to assess players and continue building the squad.
For Uganda, the Tunisia fixture offers an opportunity to test the team’s organisation, competitiveness and ability to perform away from home. The technical staff have also been integrating younger players into the national team as part of preparations for the future.
Captain Denis Onyango said the players understood the quality of the opposition but were prepared to make the match difficult for Tunisia. He also highlighted the importance of developing the younger members of the squad.
Uganda and Tunisia have met previously in continental competition, but the current fixtures form part of a different qualifying campaign. The two sides therefore enter the match with a new competitive objective.
Football supporters in Uganda will be following the game closely as the national team begins another attempt to secure a place at the Africa Cup of Nations. The team’s home fixture against Libya in Hoima will then give Ugandan fans an opportunity to watch the Cranes in the next stage of the September schedule.
The AFCON 2027 tournament will have added importance for Uganda because of its role as a co-host alongside Kenya and Tanzania. The national team’s performances during the preparation period and qualifying programme will be closely followed as the country builds toward the tournament.
For now, attention remains on the Tunisia encounter and the Cranes’ ability to start the campaign positively.