As Uganda prepares to host Group C of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan), the stakes are as high intriguing tournament on the cards as the hopes surrounding the na- tional team, The Cranes.
With the tournament co-hosted by Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda finds herself not only playing on familiar soil but also under the weight of expectation from millions of fans eager for a breakthrough.
This year’s group is anything but forgiving—featuring seasoned contenders like Algeria, rising forces such as Guinea, battle-tested South Africa, and resilient underdogs Niger. Though The Cranes qualified automatically as hosts, their decision to compete in qualifiers shows a team hungry for more than just participation.
Meanwhile, each of their group rivals brings a compelling storyline of its own: Algeria’s blend of youth and experience chasing redemption; Guinea’s explosive young talent making headlines; South Africa’s gritty journey through a tough qualifying campaign; and Niger’s dogged resilience, carving a path through tactical discipline.
QUIET PREPS, LOUD INTENTIONS
The Cranes’ road to Chan 2024 didn’t involve a desperate fight through qualifiers. As one of the tournament’s co-hosts—alongside Kenya and Tanzania—The Cranes earned automatic entry. But they chose not to coast.
Coach Paul Joseph Put’s squad entered the qualifiers anyway, facing Burundi in a symbolic yet meaningful two-legged tie. In front of a lively crowd at Nakivubo’s Hamz stadium, Isaac Ogwang, the promising Police FC forward, netted the match-winner.
Days later, in Congo, Hakim Kiwanuka sealed another win. The message was clear: Uganda wasn’t just showing up, they were warming up. “This team is hungry,” assistant coach Fred Muhumuza said. “Playing at home doesn’t guarantee anything, but we’re not here to make up numbers.”
YOUNG BLOOD, BIG DREAMS
Much of Uganda’s optimism rests on the shoulders of 25-year-old attacking midfielder Allan Okello. A talismanic figure for Vipers SC, Okello delivered 20 goals and four assists last season, helping the club clinch a historic domestic treble.
His creativity and calm in tight spaces make him Uganda’s most dangerous weapon. But this is not a one-man team. Coach Put’s final 29-man squad blends youth and experience, drawn entirely from domestic clubs—a Chan requirement, but also a showcase of Uganda’s local talent pipeline.
Vipers SC, KCCA FC, and SC Villa dominate the roster, contributing names like Marvin Youngman, Usama Arafat, and veteran striker Yunus Sentamu. From Kitara to BUL FC, nearly every top-tier Ugandan club is represented, reflecting a nationwide belief that this could be a defining tournament.
ALGERIA: REDEMPTION THROUGH YOUTH
Algeria, Group C’s most decorated side, enters with both pedigree and a point to prove. Runners-up in Chan 2022 after a penalty heartbreak against Senegal, the North Africans return with a rejuvenated squad built around rising stars, many of whom are also eyeing the Arab Cup in Qatar later this year.
Leading the charge is 27-year-old Aymen Mahious, Chan 2022’s golden boot winner. His movement off the ball and sharp finishing make him a constant threat. He’s flanked by Abderrahmane Meziane and Mehdi Merghem in an attack that can shift gears in seconds.
Algeria’s decision to include many players from domestic powerhouses like USM Algiers and CR Belouizdad highlights both the depth and strategy of their selection.
Their 3-0 demolition of Gambia in the final qualifier leg was a chilling reminder: when Algeria switches on, few can keep up.
GUINEA: A RISING FORCE
For Guinea, the road to Chan 2024 was built on dominance. They brushed aside Guinea-Bissau with a 6-2 aggregate win, powered by the electric performances of Mohamed Bangoura, a 20-year-old forward from Haifa FC whose four goals in two games made headlines across West Africa.
Bangoura is already being watched by scouts in Europe, and with good reason. His vision, pace and composure in front of goal belie his age. Under the guidance of coach Souleymane Camara, Guinea’s squad fuses energy with experience, featuring key players from clubs like Horoya AC and Hafia FC.
Their defense is solid, their midfield technically gifted—and with Bangoura up front, they are more than just a dark horse.
SOUTH AFRICA: BUILT ON GRIT
South Africa arrives with scars from a bruising qualification run—but also with a captain who knows how to lead from the front. Neo Maema, the 29-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, scored in both crucial legs against Egypt and Malawi to drag Bafana Bafana into the tournament.
“This team has learned to fight,” said head coach Molefi Ntseki. “We’re not just here for experience—we want results.” With Maema at the center of their attacking plans, and a squad sharpened by back-to-back tough qualifiers, South Africa is peaking at the right time.
NIGER: THE QUIET SURVIVORS
Perhaps the least talked-about team in Group C, Niger fought their way past Togo on away goals after a gritty 1-1 draw in Lomé and a tense 0-0 in Mali. It’s not flashy, but it works. Daniel Sosah, 26, is their most promising player.
Known for his pace and strength, Sosah has already scored critical goals for Niger in Afacon qualifiers and will be key if they hope to sneak past bigger names in the group. Their fifth Chan qualification proves that Niger is no pushover.
Their defense is disciplined, and their tactical awareness makes them dangerous in low-scoring games. Group C isn’t just tough, it’s layered. Every team brings something unique: Algeria’s legacy, Guinea’s raw firepower, South Africa’s unity, Niger’s discipline.
But Uganda has something intangible: home. Playing in front of their own crowds, on their own pitches, the Cranes carry more than a nation’s hope. They carry momentum. And belief. Uganda has never progressed past the group stage in any of its five previous Chan appearances.
But now, with a deep squad, proven scorers, and the roar of the home crowd behind them, that history could finally change. Chan remains one of football’s most underrated tournaments, showcasing homegrown talent from across the continent, in an era where big-name European stars often dominate headlines.
For players like Okello, Mahious, and Bangoura, Chan is more than just a competition. It’s a window. A runway. A chance to dream bigger. It’s also a reminder that football is still deeply local.
That talent can grow in the mud of Nakivubo just as it can in the academies of Madrid. And that when given the stage, players from so-called “smaller” leagues can light it up. Uganda’s Group C campaign begins with expectation— but also with opportunity. For a country where football carries the weight of hope, Chan 2024 could be the story that finally sticks.
UGANDA CRANES FIXTURES
Monday, August 4, 2025: Uganda v Algeria @8pm
Friday, August 8, 2025: Uganda v Niger @ 8pm
Monday, August 11, 2025: Uganda v Niger @8pm
Monday, August 18, 2025: S.Africa v Uganda @ 5pm
