“No team will be comfortable playing us”

Kenneth Semakula L of Uganda vies with Merveille Ndockyt of the Republic of Congo. Photo by: ImagoxHajarahxNalwadda

Uganda forward Melvyn Lorenzen has promised that he and his teammates will give their opponents a difficult time at the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, according to Soccernet.ng.

​While the Uganda Cranes have historically struggled to make an impact on the continent, they are hoping to shed their “underachiever” tag in Morocco.

​They face a daunting task in Group C, where they have been drawn alongside Tanzania, former champions Tunisia, and three-time winners Nigeria.

OFFICIAL: AFCON 2025 – Group C (Confirmed Squad Lists)

The confirmed squads for Group C are now out:

• Tanzania
• Nigeria
• Tunisia
• Uganda

A competitive group packed with talent and ambition where every match will be crucial in the battle for the knockout… pic.twitter.com/IhBOBOOMOf

— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) December 17, 2025

Based on pedigree and squad quality alone, Uganda would likely rank third in the group, trailing the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles.

​However, Lorenzen, who currently plays for Malaysian side Muangthong United, is confident that his side can cause problems for any team they encounter at the tournament.

“Even against the big nations, it’s always a good result. We’ve never gone under, they’ve always shown themselves in a good light. So, I think any team that comes won’t be comfortable playing us. It’s time to prove that again,” Lorenzen said.

The winger recently made his debut for the Cranes of Uganda, and he is one of the players that coach Paul Put will be banking on to deliver in the final third.

Soccer AFCON 2025: Can Uganda Cause An Upset in Group C?

The Cranes are not the strongest team, but they occasionally give the big boys troubles on the continent.

This seems like a group that they might be able to get something from. Nigeria, the best team on paper, have not been convincing in recent years.

In fact, during the recently-concluded World Cup Qualifiers, they struggled against countries like Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Benin. So Uganda might be able to nick something there.

In the same vein, Tunisia are exactly powerhouses anymore. They don’t have as much quality as they used to have in previous years. Then, of course, Tanzania is a team that Uganda can match pound for pound.

For the Cranes, a quarterfinal finish would be really decent. They will be hoping that things favour them in the group stage and then they get the luck of the draw in the knockout phase.

Kelvin Omachonu

Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, and Sportspremi.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.