CHAN 2024 quarter-finals qualification has delivered a powerful East African thesis. All three co-hosts, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, are through as group winners, and they are joined by regional neighbors Sudan in a last eight that crackles with storylines, pride, and possibility.
Co-hosts set the tone
For the first time, a CAF tournament is being co-hosted by three nations, and each has risen to the moment. Kenya have been the breakout act, Tanzania have played with conviction, and Uganda have finally broken their ceiling, turning home crowds into a competitive edge that feels both emotional and tangible.
Kenya stormed to the top of Group A with 10 points, beating DR Congo, Morocco, and Zambia, and drawing with Angola. Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars conceded just once in four matches, a defensive base that now fuels belief across Nairobi.
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars matched Kenya’s 10-point haul from Group B. They won three and drew one, their only stumble coming in a dead rubber. They face two-time winners Morocco in Dar es Salaam, an appointment that has neutrals circling the calendar.
Uganda, co-hosts in Kampala, have made history. After six group-stage exits across previous editions, the Cranes topped Group C with seven points and advanced to the knockout stage for the first time. They are also, uniquely among the co-hosts, the only one to have tasted defeat, a 3-0 opening setback against Algeria that now reads like a turning point rather than a tombstone.
Uganda break the curse in a Kampala cauldron
Monday night in Namboole was a ride. Uganda led South Africa through Jude Ssemugabi’s 31st-minute finish, then trailed 3-1 as Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Thabiso Kutumela, and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo turned the match on its head. With minutes remaining, a first penalty was coolly converted by Allan Okello in the 88th minute, and a second, deep into stoppage time, was slammed home by captain Rogers Torach to complete a 3-3 draw and send the Mandela National Stadium into rapture.
The drama mattered beyond the noise. With Algeria holding Niger to a draw in Nairobi, Uganda finished Group C on seven points, one clear of Algeria and South Africa. Uganda had finally stepped beyond history, and the reward is staying in Kampala for the quarter-final, with the possibility of a semi-final and the third-place playoff at the same venue.
National mood followed suit. The Ugandan government signaled it is weighing a public holiday to mark the achievement, a nod to how this run has galvanised a country that demanded a response after the opening defeat to Algeria. First Lady and Sports Minister Janet Museveni publicly congratulated the Cranes, underscoring the blend of pride and expectation now swirling around the team.
Zanzibar night seals Group D
Over in Zanzibar, Sudan and Senegal played to a tense 0-0 draw at the Amaan Stadium that settled Group D. VAR drama punctuated the first half when a Sudan penalty was rescinded on review, and the night ended with Senegal’s Mbaye Yaya sent off in stoppage time for a second booking.
The other game delivered its own subtext. Nigeria beat Congo 2-0, with Anas Yusuf striking on 56 minutes and Alimi Sikiri adding a second late on, but the result could not salvage their campaign. Charles Atipo’s red card in the 92nd minute summed up a bitter exit for Congo as well.
Sudan, revitalised and organised, took top spot on goal difference and will face Algeria in Zanzibar. Defending champions Senegal, second in the section, head to Kampala for a blockbuster with Uganda that feels as much about nerve as it is about skill.
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Quarter-final pairings and why they matter
- Kenya vs Madagascar,
- Tanzania vs Morocco,
- Sudan vs Algeria,
- Uganda vs Senegal.
Kenya remain in Nairobi to meet Madagascar at Moi International Sports Centre. The Harambee Stars have balanced solidity and opportunism, and with Ryan Ogam delivering decisive moments, their crowd has every reason to dream. The team’s ability to protect a lead, and the fact they have conceded just once, frames them as one of the tournament’s most disciplined units.
Tanzania’s date with Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium looks like a test of maturity. The Taifa Stars have been consistent, and their attack has been lively, but Morocco’s pedigree can punish any lapse. If Tanzania sustain their pressing tempo and keep transitions tidy, they can make the night in Dar es Salaam feel long for the North African giants.
Sudan against Algeria in Zanzibar brings together a rejuvenated side and a regional heavyweight. Sudan have shown structure and belief, and the grit they displayed against Senegal suggests they will not be overawed. Algeria have the tools to control tempo, so set pieces and counterattacks could tilt the balance.
Uganda versus Senegal in Kampala is the tie that grips the imagination. The Cranes will lean into atmosphere, resilience, and the self-belief born on Monday night. Senegal carry the mantle of champions and have ball dominance that can suffocate opponents, yet their goalless draw with Sudan, coupled with a late red card, hints at areas Uganda can target, especially in transitions and late-game pressure.
Home comforts and a clear path for Uganda
Uganda’s calendar advantage is real. Should the Cranes defeat Senegal, they would also play a semi-final in Kampala, and even the third-place playoff is slated for the same stadium. Continuity of pitch, routine, and crowd is not a guarantee, but it is a competitive boost few tournament teams enjoy.
The bracket adds intrigue. Tanzania and Uganda sit on the same side, which means only one East African co-host can reach the final. Uganda could meet Tanzania in a regional semi-final, an occasion that would turn Kampala or Dar es Salaam into a wall of color and song.
Kenya’s fairytale builds on defensive steel
Debutantes rarely run tournaments. Kenya are making a habit of defying precedent. They have handled different game states, edged tight contests, and kept errors to a minimum. The dressing room voice of Benni McCarthy has clearly landed, and the clean structure in front of goal has underpinned their surge to the summit of Group A.
Madagascar will ask new questions, particularly on how Kenya manage patience when the onus to create is on them. If the Harambee Stars find control without losing their compactness, they will stay in the title conversation. The sense of mission around Kasarani is unmistakable, and that can carry a team through tournament turbulence.
Tanzania’s moment of truth
Few fixtures demand as much clarity as a knockout against Morocco. Tanzania have shown poise in Group B and will have a full-throated Dar es Salaam behind them. The key is to break the game into digestible phases, match Morocco’s rhythm without chasing shadows, and exploit moments when the visitors over-commit.
Tanzania have scored at key times, and if they can stretch Morocco’s back line with intelligent movement and set-piece variety, the door will open. The contest promises a tactical chess match, with details defining destiny.
Sudan and Senegal carry different kinds of momentum
Sudan’s unbeaten Group D run came with control and a willingness to absorb pressure. The VAR reversal in Zanzibar could have rattled them, instead it steeled them. That temperament will be vital against an Algerian side that knows how to manage margins.
Senegal’s path through Group D ended with a stalemate that hinted at frustration in the final third. The champions still possess the swagger of a team that expects to win, but Kampala’s noise and Uganda’s stubbornness can bend a champion’s rhythm. Senegal will want an early foothold, Uganda will want to lean into late-game chaos.
Voices, emotion, and the wider picture
Government signals, swelling crowds, and continental pride have shaped this tournament’s arc. In Uganda, talk of a public holiday captures a nation’s mood, a symbol of how sport can bind. In Kenya and Tanzania, the sense of mission is matched by the joy of hosting, a rare blend that elevates performance.
CAF’s triple-hosting experiment has become a cultural journey. Stadiums in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala have been alive with narrative, from Kenya’s measured dominance, to Tanzania’s consistency, to Uganda’s late-night defiance. East Africa is not just hosting, it is headlining.
Key numbers at a glance
- Kenya finished Group A with 10 points and just one goal conceded,
- Tanzania topped Group B with 10 points from three wins and a draw,
- Uganda won Group C with seven points after a 3-3 epic against South Africa,
- Sudan led Group D on goal difference after a 0-0 with Senegal.
What comes next
Four quarter-finals across Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Kampala offer a sweeping canvas. Kenya will try to extend a story that has captured imaginations, Tanzania will attempt to dethrone pedigree, Sudan will test their structure against Algeria, and Uganda will embrace the roar of Namboole against the champions.
The margins now are microscopic. Set pieces, substitutions, and tempo control will decide fates. CHAN 2024 has already given East Africa a shared memory bank, and the next chapter promises noise, nuance, and new heroes.
