David GOMBE
It has been a wonderful ride, but the remarkable CHAN 2024 run that set millions of people dreaming across Uganda is finally over.
There will always be the memories, and if it had to end at all then at least there was one final glorious moment that no Ugandan fan present at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium on Saturday will forget for the rest of their lives.
Perhaps the giddiest point of the host nation’s trip into the quarter-finals came here, when defeat was still not an option.
The atmosphere in the ground had been electric all evening, every move up the pitch gaining volume as the match went on.
It was a cruel way to end it all, but in the wake of defeat it has to be remembered that these were thrilling moments nobody here had expected to experience.
Uganda had failed to reach the knockout phase in their previous six final CHAN tournaments.
After a 3-0 defeat to Algeria in their opening game of Group C, the Cranes’ incredible journey began with that 3-0 victory over Guinea who had beaten Niger.
Morley Byekwaso’s side then beat Niger 2-0 before a dramatic 3-3 stalemate with South Africa in their final Group game.
The 3-3 draw with South Africa not only saw the Cranes advance to the last eight for the first time in the tournament’s history but also topped the Group with seven points with Algeria finishing as runners on six points.
Uganda’s East Africa CHAN carnival came to an end in the narrow 1-0 defeat to defending champions Senegal.
Such prospects were simply unthinkable before the tournament and now the Cranes will head into the 2026 World Cup Qualifier matches against Mozambique and Somalia next month with high hopes.
