Uganda star Rogers Mato among BBC’s AFCON 2025 players to watch

Uganda national team rising star Rogers Mato has been spotlighted by the BBC as one of six players to watch at AFCON 2025, with good reason.

The pacy winger has been in scintillating form for both club and country, making him a key figure in Uganda’s push to progress beyond the group stage.

Rogers currently shares the top spot in North Macedonia’s premier league scoring charts, having netted 12 goals for Vardar this season.

His eye-catching performances earned him headlines in September, when he struck twice in a commanding victory over Mozambique during Uganda’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

He finished qualification campaign as joint scorer

He finished that qualification campaign as joint leading scorer with three goals to his name, same as Allan Okello helping Paul Put’s side secure second place behind Algeria in their group.

The Cranes are making their AFCON return for the first time since 2019, when they bowed out in the Round of 16 to Senegal.

They enter the tournament in Group C, where they face stiff tests against former champions Nigeria and Tunisia, sandwiched around a high-stakes East African clash with 2027 co-hosts Tanzania.

Uganda’s campaign will hinge on seizing key moments, and Mato Rogers could well be the catalyst.