Paul Put has revealed the halftime talk that changed the game as Uganda came within minutes of beating South Africa in Pretoria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Denis Omedi and Rogers Mato scored in quick succession to give Uganda a 2-1 lead after they had fallen to Lyle Foster’s first-half goal.

“I think we were very lucky in the first half because we were not in the game. We were nowhere, I didn’t recognize my players, they were playing like children,” said Put in a post-match press conference.

“Too much respect for South Africa and we were lucky that we conceded only one goal,” he added.

They have been doing talks in the dressing room at halftime. And I told them that we want to see a real Uganda that played against Botswana and Algeria and the second half we saw a much better team with different mentality and we scored by distance shots but it’s also football.

The Belgian who led Burkina Faso to the final in 2013 says the team is gutted to not take all three points although he admits they would take a draw before kickoff.  

“But in the beginning, if you came to South Africa, you would ask for a draw but we have a gut feeling because we led with 1-2 minutes and we conceded a goal, it’s tough.

“I don’t say it’s not the right result but in football, not always the best team wins. I am very proud of my boys in the second half.”

Uganda takes on Group K leaders Congo on Monday at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole and victory could lift the Cranes to the top of the group.

“The point in South Africa can only be important if we beat Congo on Monday as it’s still a long journey to go.”

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals will be played in Morocco starting December next year until January 2026.

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