Overview:

The 2-0 victory has Uganda provisionally top of Group K on four points, with Congo second on three, and South Africa, who face South Sudan on Tuesday night, third on a single point. 

2025 Afcon Qualifier result

Uganda Cranes 2-0 Congo

StarTimes Uganda Premier League stars Allan Okello and Jude Ssemugabi combined for a special second goal to earn the Cranes a much needed 2-0 victory over Congo Brazzaville on Monday at Namboole.

Scorer Jude Ssemugabi leads Rogers Mato and creator of the goal, Allan Okello, in celebrating Uganda’s second goal at Namboole on Monday, September 9, 2024. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NICHOLAS BAMULANZEKI

SC Villa’s Ronald Ssekiganda and Kitara striker Denis Omedi were also instrumental in the victory having started and finished this Afcon qualifier.

Czech Republic based Aziz Kayondo, also a product of the domestic league, first put Uganda ahead in the 21st minute, his intended cross beautifully beating the Congolese goalkeeper.

Then later in the second half, substitutes Okello – who replaced Travis Mutyaba, and Ssemugabi – on for Shaban Muhammad, combined for the second goal.

With five minutes left to play, Vipers SC attacker Okello received the ball on the right, and in a split second curled it with the outside of his left boot into Kitara forward Ssemugabi’s path, the latter doing the rest.

The 2-0 victory has Uganda provisionally top of Group K on four points, with Congo second on three, and South Africa, who face South Sudan on Tuesday night, third on a single point. 

Only the top two will qualify for Morocco Afcon 2025, which will be held in December 2025 through January 2026.