Ugandan forward Melvyn Lorenzen has issued a strong warning to Nigeria’s Super Eagles and fellow Group C opponents, signaling that the Cranes will make the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco a tough tournament for all.

Under coach Paul Put, Uganda finds itself in a group alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria. While the Super Eagles and the Carthage Eagles are widely expected to advance, Lorenzen insists that Uganda will not be an easy team to beat.

“Even against the big nations, we always strive for a good result. We’ve never gone under, and we’ve always shown we can compete. Any team that comes to play us won’t be comfortable. It’s time to prove that again,” Lorenzen told the Uganda Football Association’s official website.

The Cranes will open their AFCON 2025 campaign against Tunisia next Tuesday, face Tanzania in their second group match, and conclude the group stage against Nigeria on December 31 in Fez.

Uganda will be making its eighth appearance at the AFCON finals, having missed the last two editions in Cameroon and Ivory Coast. The nation also has a historic connection with Nigeria, notably the 1978 semi-finals in Ghana, where Philip Omondi’s brace eliminated the Super Eagles from the tournament.