AFCON: Bonus stand-off halts Uganda session

Uganda Cranes’ preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) suffered an unexpected interruption on Saturday after the team failed to carry out a scheduled training session in Rabat.

 

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The Cranes were due to train at the Stade Olympique Annex at 4:00pm local time (6:00pm EAT). Head coach Paul Put and his technical staff arrived early and even laid out training equipment on the pitch.

Moments later, however, the session was abruptly called off. The equipment was packed away, and the delegation returned to the team hotel without a single drill conducted.

Subsequent information revealed that the cancelled session stemmed from growing dissatisfaction within the playing group over delayed qualification bonuses.

Sources indicate that players had been promised bonuses of up to USD $10,000 each for securing qualification to the finals, with individual amounts dependent on match appearances during the qualification campaign.

However, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) reportedly informed the squad that the responsibility for releasing the funds lies with the government, and that payment had not yet been effected.

Attempts to resolve the matter on Friday, including a meeting between the FUFA President and the players, ended without agreement.

By Saturday, tensions had escalated. The players are said to have held three internal meetings and collectively resolved to express their displeasure by not taking part in training.

Speaking briefly before leaving the stadium, coach Put confirmed that the team had been instructed to return to the hotel and acknowledged that the matter involved the players.

The Belgian tactician admitted the situation had disrupted preparations ahead of Uganda’s Group C opener against Tunisia, the 2004 champions, scheduled for Tuesday, December 23.

The developments have inevitably revived memories of AFCON 2019 in Egypt, when a similar dispute over bonuses saw Cranes players boycott two training sessions before their Round of 16 clash with Senegal. On that occasion, they exited the tournament following a narrow 1–0 defeat to the Lions of Teranga.

With Tunisia looming, Uganda now faces the urgent task of restoring focus and unity off the pitch to avoid history repeating itself on the continental stage.