Put braces for ‘Not Easy’ Nigeria test as Uganda chase last-game miracle

Uganda head coach Paul Put has admitted that his side faces a stern challenge when they take on Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their final Group C fixture at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

The Cranes head coach urged his players to keep faith and fight until the very end.

The Cranes head into the decisive encounter with their backs against the wall, having picked up just one point from their opening two matches against Tunisia and Tanzania.

With qualification hopes hanging by a thread, Uganda must secure an outright victory over Nigeria to stand any chance of progressing to the Round of 16.

Standing in their way are a confident Nigerian side led by Éric Chelle, already assured of a place in the knockout stages.

The Super Eagles need only a draw to seal top spot in Group C, underlining the scale of the task awaiting the East Africans.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Put was realistic about the difficulty of the challenge but insisted his team must not lose belief.

“I told the players we must keep believing and fight until the last game,” the Belgian coach said.

“We are disappointed, but we have to reset and prepare for Nigeria. It won’t be easy.”

Nigeria’s qualification has been built on a solid group-stage campaign, marked by discipline, experience and attacking quality, qualities that Put knows his side must match if they are to spring a surprise.

For Uganda, the match represents more than just three points — it is a final opportunity to stay alive in the tournament and end the group phase on a high.

As the Super Eagles look to consolidate their dominance in Group C, the Cranes will be driven by desperation and belief, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown where momentum, mentality and margins could prove decisive.