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2024 Chan: Late drama as Uganda spoils South African party to reach quarter finals
Ugandan players celebrate at their 3-3 draw with South Africa in the final Group 'C' match at the 2024 African Nations Championship at Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Kampala, on August 188, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Uganda through to the quarter final as Group 'C' winners on seven points, one ahead of Algeria and South Africa.
- On Saturday, they will meet Group D’s runners-up — either Sudan or holders Senegal — in this same cauldron.
Monday night belonged to Namboole — a cauldron of noise, nerve and history — where Uganda Cranes tore up the script and wrote their own legend. They did not win. But they won.
In a heart-stopping six-goal thriller against South Africa, the Cranes clawed their way back from the brink, secured their first-ever African Nations Championship (Chan) quarterfinal berth, and, with a slice of fortune from Nairobi, topped Group C.
History, so long a stranger, finally came knocking — and Uganda flung the door wide.
The Cranes didn’t just make their country proud; they completed the Pamoja statement of intent, joining Kenya and Tanzania in topping their groups en route to the last eight. What a way to arrive.
The roar of 34,000 fans rose as Jude Ssemugabi slid in Patrick Kakande’s low cross in the 31st minute, igniting fevered hope.
But South Africa, swaggering under Molefi Ntseki, struck back. Ramahlwe Mphahlele thundered in the equaliser on 52 minutes — awarded after a long VAR check — before Thabiso Kutumela flipped the script six minutes later.
When Ndabayithetwa Ndiondio curled in an 83rd-minute strike after Joel Mutakubwa rushed off his line, South Africa were 3-1 up and Uganda’s dream seemed to be crumbling.
Yet these Cranes, forged in the pain of six previous failures, refused to break.
Ugandan players celebrate at their 3-3 draw with South Africa in the final Group 'C' match at the 2024 African Nations Championship at Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Kampala, on August 188, 2025.
Allan Okello, the magician of Namboole, had already conjured chaos in the first half, two Bafana Bafana defenders colliding as Karim Watambala forced a fine save. And in the 88th minute, his icy penalty — given for a handball — gave Uganda a lifeline.
Then, deep into stoppage time, came the moment of destiny. With Okello withdrawn and Namboole holding its breath, captain Rogers Torach placed the ball on the spot. After another agonising VAR pause, the defender lashed home to send the stadium into delirium.
As word filtered through of Algeria’s 0-0 draw with Niger in Nairobi, the arithmetic became clear: Uganda were through as group winners on seven points, one ahead of Algeria and South Africa, whose inferior goal difference sees them join Guinea and Niger home.
This was more than a point. It was a statement — a test of character passed in the most dramatic fashion.
And it means the Cranes’ knockout journey stays home at Namboole — on their grass, with their crowd singing their names.
On Saturday, August 23, they will meet Group D’s runners-up — either Sudan or holders Senegal — in this same cauldron.
A semi-final on August 26, and even in defeat a third-place playoff on August 29, would also be staged here.
Coach Morley Byekwaso's Cranes have shed the weight of history and found wings of possibility. Namboole, pulsating with pride, will carry them forward.
