Senegal Shatter Uganda’s CHAN Hopes with Narrow Win at Namboole
Uganda’s CHAN 2024 journey came to a bitter end on Saturday as defending champions Senegal edged the Cranes 1-0 at Mandela National Stadium, leaving the home crowd of over 34,000 in stunned silence.
The evening began with optimism. The Cranes, buoyed by deafening support, pressed high and showed flashes of intent through Reagan Mpande and Abdul Karim Watambala.
Yet, while energy was abundant, precision in the final third remained elusive a recurring theme in Uganda’s campaign.
Senegal, composed and patient, weathered the early storm. Gradually, they tightened their grip on midfield exchanges and began dictating tempo.
Their breakthrough arrived in the 62nd minute when a lapse in the Cranes’ defence gave Oumar Ba just enough space to tuck the ball past goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa.
The goal transformed the game. Uganda chased an equaliser with urgency, introducing Patrick Kakande, Yunus Ssentamu and Kizza Usama to spark a response.
The substitutes brought fresh legs but little change in fortune as Senegal’s defensive wall held firm, repelling wave after wave of Ugandan pressure.
By full-time, the packed stands — once electric had fallen into resignation. Uganda’s brave effort had fallen short against a side whose resilience underlined their championship credentials.
For coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojević and his charges, the defeat marks more than elimination; it’s a reminder of the fine margins at the top level.
With World Cup qualifiers just weeks away, the Cranes now face the task of turning heartbreak into hunger, and frustration into fuel for redemption.
