AFCON 2025: Uganda Cranes Boycott Training Over Unpaid Player Bonuses

Uganda Cranes' build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hit a major snag on Saturday as the team refused to participate in a scheduled training session in Rabat, Morocco, due to a stand-off over unpaid bonuses.

Head coach Paul Put and his staff had arrived early at the Stade Olympique Annex, setting up equipment for a 4:00 PM local time practice.

However, the session was abruptly cancelled before it could begin, with the team packing up and returning to their hotel without conducting any drills.

Reports emerging from the camp indicate that the boycott was a direct result of player dissatisfaction concerning delayed payments for successfully qualifying for the tournament.

According to Pan Africa Football, sources close to the team revealed that players were promised bonuses of up to $10,000 each, with the final amount depending on their involvement during the qualification campaign.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has reportedly told the squad that the funds are pending release from the government.

An attempt to find a resolution on Friday, which included a meeting between the FUFA President and the players, failed to produce an agreement.

The situation escalated on Saturday, with the players holding several internal meetings and collectively deciding to skip training as a form of protest.

Speaking briefly as he left the stadium, Coach Paul Put confirmed the session was called off on the players' instruction. The Belgian manager acknowledged the disruption to his plans ahead of Uganda's opening Group C match against 2004 champions Tunisia on Tuesday, December 23.

"The team was told to go back to the hotel," Paul Put stated, confirming the issue involved the players.

This incident brings back memories of the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where a similar dispute over bonuses led the Cranes to boycott two training sessions before their Round of 16 match against Senegal. Uganda ultimately lost that game 1-0, exiting the competition.

With their crucial opener against Tunisia just days away, Uganda faces a race against time to resolve the off-field issues and restore harmony within the squad to prevent a repeat of past tournament disappointments.