Tunisia aims to secure their first AFCON opening-match victory in a decade as they take on an underdog Uganda side looking to secure their first-ever win against the Carthage Eagles.
Tunisia enters the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations eager to banish the memories of their winless 2023 campaign as they face Uganda at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah on Tuesday.
Despite being 2004 champions and perennial contenders, the Carthage Eagles have struggled in recent tournament openers, failing to win their first match in five consecutive editions.
Coach Sami Trabelsi will rely on the creativity of Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri to dismantle a disciplined Ugandan defense.
The Uganda Cranes, returning to the continental stage for the first time since 2019, face a daunting historical record, having lost all previous encounters against Tunisia.
However, manager Paul Put remains confident that his side’s organizational resilience can bridge the gap in pedigree.
Preparation for the East Africans was briefly hampered by administrative issues regarding player allowances, but Put confirmed the squad is now focused on ending their North African “hoodoo” in Group C.
Tactically, Tunisia is expected to dominate possession through a midfield anchored by Ellyes Skhiri and Ferjani Sassi.
Uganda’s threat will likely come via transitions, with Allan Okello and Rogers Mato supporting target man Steven Mukwala.
Coach Put highlighted the importance of collective belief, stating, “leaving out Charles Lukwago and David Owori from his shortlisted players that will feature in this tournament will not affect the team’s quality,” as they aim for a historic result.