Lions of Teranga roar past Cranes

A Uganda Cranes fan gets painted before their CHAN quarter-final match against Senegal at Namboole Stadium on August 23, 2025. [Rodgers Eshitemi, Standard]

It is now official that there will be no 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) co-host in the medal bracket in this year's competition.

This is after Uganda Cranes fell 1-0 to defending champions Senegal in the third quarter-final match at a fully packed Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole, on Saturday.

Just like Kenya's Harambee Stars and Tanzania's Taifa Stars, the Cranes have now been reduced to spectators in the tournament, seen as a dry run for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to be co-hosted by the three East African nations.

Kenya lost 4-3 to Madagascar on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Kasarani Stadium on Friday, before Tanzania lost 1-0 to two-time champions Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

And it is diminutive forward Oumar Ba who broke the hearts of over 44,000 Ugandans at the stadium with a brilliant strike from the blind side after the hour mark.

The US Goreenne man comfortably controlled the ball in the area before unleashing a powerful shot past Cranes goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa.

The Lions of Teranga started off the match on the brighter side, with Libasse Gueye forcing a fine save from Mutakubwa in the second minute. Cranes' defence did well to clear the resulting corner kick to safety.

The hosts responded immediately, but Jude Ssemugabi was outmuscled by one of the Senegal defenders before the opposition backline easily intercepted Allan Okello's free kick.

Uganda came close in the 10th minute, but Abdu Karim Watambala's header from Mugweri Kizito's delivery went wide.

Reagan Mpanda then made a brilliant run on the left channel, only for him to feebly shoot directly at the Senegalese goalkeeper Marc Philips Arona before Christian Gomis missed a precious chance on the opposite end after an incisive cross from Oumar Ba.

Mpande almost gave Cranes the lead in the 23rd minute, but his effort in the box was well blocked by Senegal captain Baye Assaine for a fruitless corner as both sides settled into the game.

Gomis nearly got Cranes' backline flatfoot, but his diving header was deflected for a fruitless corner. Ssemugabi then saw his attempt from the right flank easily saved by the Senegal goalkeeper before he earned a corner for the hosts after a superb run.

Cranes defender Arnold Odong was lucky not to score an own goal in the 31st minute before Senegal custodian pulled off a fine save to stop Watambala's shot.

A few minutes later, Assane's header was blocked by Cranes' goalkeeper in the area before Cranes suffered an injury blow after Ssemugabi was stretched off with an injury, forcing head coach Morley Ochama to bring in Ivan Ahimbisibwe.

Five minutes after the break, Seyni Mbaye made a brilliant clearance to block Enock Ssebaggala's dangerous cross before a great build-up from Okello and Mpande was thwarted by the West Africans' solid defence.

Ba then silenced a fully-packed Namboole with a perfect strike in the 61st minute from the blind side.

Cranes responded immediately, but Senegal goalkeeper's reflex action denied the hosts a scoring chance.

Cranes almost drew level at the death, only for the keeper to make a double save to the disappointment of the home fans.