Tunisia vs Uganda: Carthage Eagles face Cranes in AFCON 2027 qualifier opener

Tunisia and Uganda will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns with an intriguing Group H encounter on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The match, scheduled for Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi in Radès, is one of the opening fixtures of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign, which gets underway across the continent this week.

For Tunisia, the fixture represents the beginning of a new chapter under head coach Mouine Chaabani. The coach took charge in July following a catastrophic 2026 World Cup in North America and has already begun reshaping the national team, with a blend of experienced internationals and younger players included in his first squad for the qualifiers.

Chaabani has recalled experienced players including Ferjani Sassi, Aïssa Laïdouni and Ali Maâloul, giving the team a mixture of familiarity and fresh energy ahead of the opening qualifier.

The Carthage Eagles will be looking to put their recent World Cup disappointment behind them and start this new cycle positively. Tunisia endured a difficult 2026 World Cup campaign, losing all three group matches, and the AFCON qualifiers now offer Chaabani an opportunity to begin rebuilding the side.

Uganda, meanwhile, arrive in Tunisia with a different situation. As one of the three co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, the Cranes are already guaranteed a place at the finals. Nevertheless, they are participating in the qualifying campaign, with the matches providing valuable competitive preparation ahead of next year’s tournament.

Head coach Paul Put has selected a 28-man squad for the September qualifiers, with experienced goalkeeper Denis Onyango among the players called up. The squad also includes players based in England, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, Morocco, Tunisia and other leagues outside Uganda.

Uganda have also completed their preparations in Tunisia, with the squad coming together ahead of Thursday’s important opening fixture. Put has described the international window as a competitive period for his team, with the Cranes scheduled to face Libya at home after the Tunisia encounter.

The visitors will therefore have plenty of motivation despite already having their place at the finals secured. A strong showing against Tunisia would provide Put with an opportunity to assess his players against high-level opposition while building momentum towards the tournament on home soil.

The head-to-head record also provides Tunisia with confidence. Uganda have yet to defeat the North Africans in seven previous meetings, according to available records, while their most recent competitive encounter ended in a 3-1 victory for Tunisia at the 2025 AFCON.

However, the Cranes will be determined to write a different story this time around. With several players competing for places in Put’s squad and the AFCON finals approaching, the match provides another opportunity to demonstrate their progress.

For Tunisia, the priority will be to start the Chaabani era with three points. Home advantage at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium could prove important, but Uganda’s competitive approach means the hosts cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.

The tactical battle should be particularly interesting, with Tunisia expected to rely on their technical quality and experienced midfielders, while Uganda will look to combine defensive organisation with the pace and physicality of their attacking players.

With both sides having different objectives but plenty at stake, Thursday’s encounter promises to be an engaging start to Group H.