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Uganda’s loss to Senegal ends East Africa’s hopes in 2024 Chan
Uganda’s Reagan Mpande celebrates after scoring against Guinea in the 2024 African Nations Championship on August 8, 2025 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala.
What you need to know:
- Kenya was the first of the three co-hosts to exit the tournament after they lost 4-3 to Madagascar on post-match penalties.
- Tanzania, who were competing in the tournament for the third time, went out after losing 1-0 to Morocco in Dar es Salaam.
It is over for teams from East Africa region in the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) after Uganda joined co-hosts Kenya and Tanzania in exiting the tournament.
The Cranes crashed out of the 19-nation, four week biennial tournament after losing 1-0 to defending champions Senegal in the quarter-finals on Saturday at the 45,000-seater Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
Oumar Ba's 62nd minute strike was all the Lions of Teranga needed to keep their hope of retaining the title alive.
Just like Kenya, and Tanzania, Uganda put up a spirited fight, but were unlucky not to find the much-needed equaliser after falling behind.
Kenya was the first of the three co-hosts to exit the tournament after they lost 4-3 to Madagascar on post-match penalties on Friday evening at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani in Nairobi.
Harambee Stars players pose for group photo before the 2024 Chan quarter final match between Kenya and Madagascar at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
The match ended in a 1-1 deadlock after extra time. There was nothing to separate the two teams after 120 minutes of football, taking the match to penalties. Later that evening, Tanzania lost 1-0 to Morocco.
The results means that the three East Africa nations will only be spectators at the tournament’s final set for Saturday at Kasarani from 6pm.
Kenya have made history by reaching the quarter-finals stage on their debut.
Topped their respective groups
On the other hand, Tanzania were competing in the tournament for the third time while Uganda were making their seventh appearance, which is a record in the tournament.
In the quarter-final match between Kenya and Madagascar, defender Alphonce Omija fired Harambee Stars ahead in the 48th minute with a towering header, but the Indian Ocean islanders equalised in the 69th minute courtesy of Fenohasina Gilles Razafimaro's penalty.
In the shootout, Kenya’s penalties were converted by defenders Mohammed Siraj, Daniel Sakari and Sylvester Owino, while Michael Kibwage and Alphonce Omoja missed.
Tanzania national football team players pose for a group photo before a Group 'B' 2024 African Nations Championship match against Madagascar at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on August 17, 2025.
In Dar es Salaam, tournament leading scorer Oussama Lamlaoui’s 65th minute goal was all Morocco needed to edge out Tanzania.
All the three co-hosts topped their respective groups. Kenya topped Group 'A' on 10 points after securing identical 1-0 wins over the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Zambia and drawing 1-1 with Angola.
Tanzania finished on top of Group 'B' with 10 points after defeating Burkina Faso (2-0), Mauritania (1-0), and Madagascar (2-1) and a barren draw against Central Africa Republic.
In Group 'C', Uganda got off to a poor start with a 3-0 loss to Algeria in their opening match, but turned things around to finish top with seven points.
The Cranes defeated Guinea 3-0 then thumped Niger 2-0 before rallying from behind to hold South Africa 3-3 in their last group match.
