Uganda head coach Paul Put has admitted that Nigeria’s superior physicality and overall quality were the key factors behind the Super Eagles’ 3–1 victory in their final Group C match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Speaking after the defeat in Fès, Put acknowledged that his side struggled to cope with Nigeria’s intensity, particularly after conceding key goals and being reduced to ten men.
“Nigeria’s physical strength and quality made the difference,” Put said. “At this level, those details matter a lot.”
Uganda had stayed competitive for long periods but were undone by lapses in concentration and the dismissal of goalkeeper Salim Omar, which further tilted the balance in Nigeria’s favour.
“We conceded cheap goals, and the red card made the task even harder,” he explained. “Against a team like Nigeria, that is very difficult to recover from.”
Despite the loss, Put praised his players for their effort and commitment throughout the tournament, noting that Uganda’s squad remains relatively young and inexperienced at this level.
“My players showed commitment and tried their best,” he said. “But we are still a young team and we lack the maturity and experience needed to compete consistently at this stage.”
Put added that the AFCON experience will serve as an important learning curve for the Taifa Stars as they continue to build for the future.
“This tournament has shown us where we are and what we need to improve,” he said. “We will take the lessons and grow from here.”
Nigeria finished Group C with a perfect nine points and now advance to the knockout stage, while Uganda exit the competition with valuable experience gained against top opposition.
