Uganda delivered a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Guinea at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday night, reviving their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship hopes after a disappointing start to the tournament.
Playing in front of their home supporters as co-hosts of the delayed CHAN PAMOJA 2024 – alongside Kenya and Tanzania – the Cranes responded emphatically to their opening defeat to Algeria with goals from Reagan Mpande, Allan Okello and substitute Ivan Ahimbisibwe to claim their first points of Group C and move into second place.
The tournament, originally scheduled for February 2025, finally got underway in August across the three East African nations, with Uganda bearing the weight of home expectations in what represents a golden opportunity to showcase football in the region.
The victory leaves Uganda level on three points with Guinea but ahead on goal difference, whilst Algeria top the group with four points following their earlier 1-1 draw with South Africa.
Uganda began with the urgency of a side knowing their tournament was on the line, and their attacking intent was rewarded on 31 minutes when Mpande rose to meet Joel Sserunjogi’s set-piece delivery with a precise header that nestled in the bottom corner.
The opener came against the run of play, with Guinea having created the better early chances through Kabinet Kouyaté and Ousmane Drame, only to be denied by alert goalkeeping from Joel Mutakubwa.
Once ahead, the hosts began to assert their authority, with Allan Okello and Jude Ssemugabi both going close to extending the advantage before the interval.
The second period brought penalty drama at both ends, with VAR playing a decisive role in the outcome. Uganda doubled their lead just before the hour mark when Okello was fouled in the area by Aboubacar Bangoura. After a video review confirmed the decision, the 25-year-old midfielder kept his composure to convert from the spot despite goalkeeper Camara diving the correct way.
Guinea’s hopes of a swift response were dashed when their own penalty appeal was overturned by VAR after Mohamed Youla’s tumble in the box was deemed not worthy of a spot-kick. Coach Soulaymane Camara responded with a triple substitution, introducing fresh legs in search of a route back into the contest, but Uganda’s defence held firm.
Any lingering Guinea hopes were extinguished in the 89th minute when Uganda struck on the counter-attack. Karim Watambala’s perfectly weighted through-ball released Ahimbisibwe, who finished clinically to cap a dominant display.
The comprehensive victory represented a complete transformation from Uganda’s opening performance, with the Cranes showing the discipline, energy and cutting edge that had been absent against Algeria.
The result sets up an intriguing final round of fixtures, with three teams still harbouring realistic hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. Uganda will face South Africa knowing victory could secure their progression, whilst Guinea must now produce a result against group leaders Algeria to keep their tournament alive.
With Algeria on four points and both Uganda and Guinea on three, the race for the two knockout places remains finely poised. Even South Africa, despite having just one point, retain mathematical hopes if results go their way.
For head coach Morley Byekwaso, the response from his players was everything he could have hoped for – a performance that thrilled the home support and demonstrated Uganda’s tournament credentials as co-hosts. The victory will ease the pressure that had been building after their opening setback, with the nation’s football faithful expecting their team to capitalise on the rare privilege of hosting a major continental tournament on home soil.
Guinea, meanwhile, were left to reflect on how quickly fortunes can change in knockout football, with their qualification hopes now hanging by a thread in a tournament that has already provided drama worthy of its long-awaited staging.
Group C standings:
- Algeria – 4 points (+3 goal difference)
- Uganda – 3 points (0 goal difference)
- Guinea – 3 points (-2 goal difference)
- South Africa – 1 point
- Niger – 0 points
