CHAN 2024: History beckons for Uganda on home soil

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 2024 AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 MONDAY (AUGUST 18) GROUP C FIXTURES 
🇿🇦 South Africa vs Uganda 🇺🇬 (8pm EAT in Kampala)
🇩🇿 Algeria vs Niger 🇳🇪 (8pm EAT in Nairobi)
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After seeing fellow co-hosts Tanzania and Kenya progress to the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024), Uganda will be looking to ride the momentum and replicate that achievement when they face off with South Africa tonight (August 18) in Kampala.

The Cranes need to avoid defeat against 2011 quarterfinalists Bafana Bafana to write their own history: in a record six previous appearances, Uganda have never made it to the knockout stage.

Now that another opportunity for redemption has once again presented itself, lead coach Morley Byekwaso knows his side will have to be gutsy — and foolproof — against a free-flowing South African side.

The Ugandan tactician told reporters on the eve of today's high-stakes tie that they are very much aware of how good their opponents are in attack — a reality that will require a water-tight defence that has managed to hold up well in The Cranes' last two games after a forgetful start to their campaign.

Following their opening 3-0 defeat to all-too-familiar opponents Algeria in Group C, co-hosts Uganda regrouped swiftly to dish out an identical punishment to Guinea in their second game, before brushing aside Niger 2-0 in the subsequent tie.

With a vocal home backing, The Cranes, who are leading the group on six points, will make a historic progression to the knockout stage if they overcome Molefi Ntseki's side, who in a way will feel at home at Mandela National Stadium — a facility named in honour of former South African President and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

While a draw will be just enough for his side to progress, Byekwaso wants to make history with a bang.

"We want a win," he told reporters on Saturday of a result that would see Uganda advance as Group C leaders — just like Taifa Stars of Tanzania and Kenya's Harambee Stars.

It will not be easy sailing though. Byekwaso's opposite, Ntseki, knows Bafana Bafana must win to progress to comfortably go through. A draw will also be enough if Algeria are beaten by already-eliminated Niger.

South Africa failed to make it beyond the group stage at their last appearance in 2014 when they hosted the competition, having bowed out at the quarters at their previous — and inaugural — edition in Sudan in 2009.

Coach Ntseki is now determined to equal and even better that performance. "We are ready to fight and we will do whatever it takes to go past this [group] stage," he told a pre-match press conference on Saturday.

In the other Group C game that will be played concurrently at Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya's capital Nairobi, Algeria (who are second on five points) will be guaranteed a quarterfinal spot with a win over Niger.

The Desert Foxes have progressed from the group in their only two previous appearance: fourth in 2011 and runners-up in 2022 as hosts. This time around, while they will be focused on their final group game, the result back in Kampala could also determine their fate.

Algeria will advance if they draw against Niger and Uganda beat South Africa. Defeat in Nairobi, and depending on the margin, can also see the Algerians through if The Cranes beat Bafana Bafana.

Uganda will be eliminated if South Africa and Algeria win. Defeat against South Africa will take Uganda into the quarters if Niger beat Algeria.

But to avoid all this mathematical headache, each of the three Group C teams still in contention will be going into their respective final games eyeing only one result: a win.

Four teams through, nine eliminated

A half of the knockout stage cast of this eighth edition of Africa's flagship biennial tournament featuring exclusively home-based players is already known.

Tanzania, hosting this competiton alongside Kenya and Uganda, were the first team to progress — a first. Taifa Stars, having wrapped up their group stage production unbeaten and with 10 points at the summit of Group B, were joined by Madagascar.

Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic bowed out.

In Group A, debutants Kenya survived the "group of death" that featured the two most-successful teams of this competition in the form of Morocco and DR Congo.

Harambee Stars, ever buoyed by a large passionate home crowd, topped the group on their way into the knockout stage on the first time of asking after edging Zambia 1-0 on Sunday.

Morocco, winners of CHAN in 2018 as hosts and in 2020, secured the second qualification spot after beating close challengers DR Congo, who are 2009 (inaugural) and 2016 champions. 

After tonight's Group C action, only two qualification slots will be available, with the beneficiaries coming from Group D.

With Nigeria already eliminated, any one of the three surviving teams can qualify: leaders Sudan, reigning champions Senegal and Congo.

Sudan know they will progress if they avoid defeat against the holders on Tuesday (August 19). But both teams will be through if Nigeria beat Congo or if the contest ends in a draw. Victory for The Red Devils will guarantee their passage into the quarter-finals.

8 draws

This edition got under way 16 days ago in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam, with co-hosts Taifa Stars opening their campaign with a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso. Eight of the 32 games played thus far have ended in a draw.

In Group A, Angola drew 1-1 with co-hosts Kenya in Nairobi. Madagascar and Mauritania produced a stalemate in Dar es Salaam in Group B, as did hosts Tanzania against Central African Republic in their final group game.

In Group C, Algeria and South Africa could not be separated at the end of 90 in a 1-1 result in Kampala. Algeria were also held by Guinea in a contest that ended 1-1 while it was goalless between South Africa and Niger.

Group D produced two draws in Zanzibar City: Congo 1-1 Sudan and Senegal 1-1 Congo.

66 goals in 32 games

Right from day one, the goals conveyor belt has been running, and as it stands, 66 goals have been scored in the 32 games played across the four groups. That is an average of two goals per game.

Twenty-two of those 66 have been netted in the concluded Group A while Group B has produced 19 of the goals. Sixteen goals have been scored in Group C and nine in Group D, which is the only group to have four teams.

With three goals to his name, Morocco's Oussama Lamlioui (#9) leads the goalscoring chart at this edition.

Ten players have each scored two goals.

They are Uganda's Allan Okello, Kenya's Austin Odhiambo and Ryam Ogam, Tanzania's Clement Mzize, Morocco's Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, Angola's Kaporal, South Africa's Thabiso Kutumela, Sudan's Abdel Raouf, Algeria's Sofiane Bayazid and Madagascar's Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa.

The other 43 goals have each been scored by an individual player.

 Penalty goals 

Eight of the 66 goals scored so far at this tournament have been from the penalty spot.

Austin Odhiambo converted from the spot in the 12th minute as co-hosts Kenya drew 1-1 with Angola in Group A. Mohamed Hrimat's late penalty against DR Congo sealed Morocco's progression into the knockout stage.

In first-half stoppage time, Tanzania's Abdul Sopu slotted his side into the lead to put the co-hosts on course for a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Group B. Burkina Faso would then become penalty beneficiaries as Abdul Abass Guiro (61) and Patrick Malo (78) succesfully scored their penalties in a 4-2 triumph over Central African Republic.

Alassane Diop's penalty in first-half stoppage time was the lone winner for Mauritania against 10-man Burkina Faso, a result that eliminated The Stallions from the competition with a game to spare.

In Group C, Okello of Uganda did not even do a run-up to the ball as he coolly slotted home from the spot as the co-hosts brushed aside Guinea 3-0.

In Group D, Walieldin Khidir's 44th-minute penalty put a dominant Sudan on course for a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Nigeria, a result that condemned the CHAN Eagles to a premature exit from the tournament with a game to spare.

 Own goals 

Twice have we seen players bury their heads in their hands over the freakish goal after turning the ball into their own net.

Quinto was the first scorer of this unwanted goal as Angola collapsed to a 2-0 defeat to joint-record winners Morocco in Group A in Nairobi.

Then came Nigerian defender Leonard Ngenge's blunder 25 minutes into their crushing, tournament-ending 4-0 defeat to a resplendent Sudan side in Group D in Zanzibar City.

 Fastest and latest goals 

As it stands, Jo Paciencia has scored the fastest goal at this tournament, his strike coming only seven minutes into Angola's 1-1 draw against Kenya's Harambee Stars.

On the other end, the two latest goals to be scored have come five minutes in stoppage time (90+5): Ange Zoumara's injury time consolation goal for Central African Republic against Burkina Faso in a 4-2 result and Sabir Bougrine's goal that wrapped up Morocco's 3-1 victory over Zambia.