Uganda Cranes flying high in CHAN

 August 13, 2025   |    36 views

Uganda co-hosted the 2024 CHAN alongside Kenya and Tanzania. Their matches took place at Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala as part of Group C action—from early to mid-August 2025.

Match-by-Match Breakdown

Game 1: Uganda vs. Algeria – 0-3 (Loss)

In their opening fixture, the Cranes suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Algeria. Goals came courtesy of Ayoub Ghezala, Abderrahmane Meziane, and Soufiane Bayazid. Algeria’s clinical display exposed Uganda’s defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in aerial duels and midfield control beIN SPORTSubc.go.ug.

This early setback intensified pressure on the home side to bounce back in their remaining group matches to keep hopes of advancement alive ubc.go.ug.

Game 2: Uganda vs. Guinea – 3-0 (Win)

In a stunning reversal, Uganda delivered a dominant performance, defeating Guinea 3-0 in Kampala. Reagan Mpande opened the scoring with a header, Allan Okello added a calm penalty after VAR confirmation, and substitute Ivan Ahimbisibwe capped the win with a late strike. Coach Morley Byekwaso’s aggressive 4-4-2 setup paid dividends, and the home crowd erupted in joy beIN SPORTSDailymotionYouTube+1.

Game 3: Uganda vs. Niger – 2-0 (Win)

Continuing their resurgence, Uganda beat Niger 2-0 to climb to the top of Group C. Allan Okello again featured prominently—first scoring via a rebound from his saved penalty, then assisting Joel Sserunjogi for a second-half goal. Uganda finished the group stage with six points, overtaking both Algeria and South Africa in the standings, who had played one game fewer Kawowo Sports.

Group C Final Standings

By the end of group play, Uganda had:

• Lost 0-3 to Algeria
• Beat Guinea 3-0
• Beat Niger 2-0

They amassed six points and sat atop Group C—two points clear of key rivals after three rounds Kawowo Sports.

Assessment & What It Means for the Cranes

• Bounce-back resilience: The Cranes showed commendable mental fortitude coming off a poor loss to register back-to-back wins.
• Okello’s influence: Allan Okello was instrumental—earning and scoring from a penalty against Guinea and contributing goals and assists versus Niger.
• Home advantage realized: Kampala proved to be fertile ground, with the home fans lifting the team’s spirit as the matches progressed.
• Tactical flexibility: Byekwaso’s adjustments—from formation tweaks to impactful substitutions—turned the campaign around.

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