The CHAN 2024 knockout stage has arrived with the kind of noise, color and belief that only East Africa could summon. For the first time in CAF history, three co-hosts, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, have all surged into the quarter-finals, and the story now tightens around Kampala where Uganda Cranes collide with defending champions Senegal in a clash that feels bigger than a single result.
This edition has always been about togetherness, the Pamoja spirit, but now the theme is tangible in full stadiums and a shared regional stride. Kenya have turned Nairobi into a fortress, Tanzania have made Dar es Salaam a roaring stage, and Uganda have finally broken a long-standing ceiling, all while Group D quietly delivered a heavyweight for the Cranes to face. Everywhere you look, there is a rising tide.
The quarter-final picture
- Friday, 22 August 2025, Kenya v Madagascar, 17:00, Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi
- Friday, 22 August 2025, Tanzania v Morocco, 20:00, Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam
- Saturday, 23 August 2025, Sudan v Algeria, 17:00, Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar City
- Saturday, 23 August 2025, Uganda v Senegal, 20:00, Mandela National Stadium, Kampala.
Kenya turn debut nerves into Group A authority
On debut, Kenya have been one of the stories of the tournament. A 1-0 win over Zambia in Nairobi, sealed by Ryan Ogam’s late strike, completed a group phase that yielded 10 points and only one goal conceded. Benni McCarthy’s side have been disciplined without the ball and purposeful when it mattered, the profile of a team that trusts its structure and its moment makers.
Home support has swelled with each performance, and momentum now meets opportunity. Top of Group A, the Harambee Stars remain in Nairobi to meet Madagascar on Friday at Kasarani, a setting that has already felt like a springboard. It is early to crown them, but the transformation from debutants to dark horses is impossible to ignore, particularly with that blend of resilience and calm decision making that has defined their run.
Tanzania play with rhythm and conviction
Tanzania also topped their group with 10 points, three wins and a draw that came in a dead rubber against the Central African Republic. The Taifa Stars have looked balanced and confident, a team that can move through the thirds with purpose and recover structure without panic. In front of packed stands in Dar es Salaam, they have been one of the most watchable sides so far.
The next test is substantial. Morocco, two-time CHAN winners, arrive as runners-up from Group A. The meeting at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Friday night promises control against enterprise, tradition against a host with surging belief. The margins will be fine, which is exactly how quarter-finals should feel in a tournament that has rewarded clarity and courage.
Uganda break the jinx and welcome a defining night
Uganda have waited a long time for this step and now the door is open. After six failed attempts to move beyond the groups, the Cranes topped Group C with seven points, their decisive night a breathless 3-3 draw with South Africa in Kampala. With the match hanging by a thread, Rogers Torach held his nerve to score a stoppage-time penalty, a moment that snapped a narrative and ignited the Mandela National Stadium.
There is more than symbolism in that equaliser. It condensed the qualities that have taken Uganda here, persistence, emotional control, and the ability to create chances even under pressure. The return of midfielder Joel Sserunjogi from suspension is a timely addition, a piece that can bring balance to a midfield already high on energy and bite. The opponent is formidable, yet the sense of possibility is louder than the fear of pedigree.
Head coach Morley Byekwaso was clear on the eve of battle. It is a knockout game where we must show character and discipline. Senegal is experienced, but with our fans behind us, we believe we can achieve victory.
Byekwaso has also drawn strength from the supporters who roared Uganda through the turbulence against South Africa. He spoke of the pain of seeing some leave early, and of the reminder that nothing is decided until the final whistle. In a stadium primed to believe, that shared lesson could matter again on Saturday night.
Senegal arrive with champions poise
Group D unfolded in Zanzibar, where a tense 0-0 between Sudan and Senegal sent both through. Sudan topped the pool on goal difference and remain on the island to face Algeria, while Senegal settled for second and now travel to Kampala. The champions conceded only one goal across the group stage, a statistic that speaks to their defensive control and their ability to quieten games when needed.
Head coach Souleymane Diallo has acknowledged the difficulty of facing a host in full voice, but he trusts his group’s depth even with key defender Yaya Ly suspended. The Lions of Teranga have a relatively new core, with only one player from the previous title-winning squad, yet the goal is unchanged. Forward Pape Abasse Badji mirrors that intent, eager for the moment and convinced in the plan.
We are ready to give everything, Diallo said. Uganda is organized and playing at home, but this is a knockout match where there are only two options, win and move on, or lose and go home.
The matchup creates a compelling contrast. Uganda scored five and conceded two in the group stage, Senegal scored three and conceded one. One side leans into pressure through attack, the other absorbs and counters with minimal concessions. Historically, Senegal hold the edge in meetings, but CHAN narrows the gap, since squads are drawn from domestic leagues and chemistry matters as much as reputation.
Why Uganda vs Senegal feels bigger than a quarter-final
The winner advances to a semi-final against either Tanzania or Morocco, a path that keeps the East African storyline alive no matter what. Yet for Uganda, the stakes carry an extra layer. This is a first knockouts appearance at CHAN, at home, with a chance to topple the champions in front of a crowd that has found its voice. It is the kind of night that can echo for years in a national game.
For Senegal, the challenge is to prove that a refreshed group can carry the same standard as the title holders who came before. Their defensive numbers suggest they can slow any game to their tempo, but they will need nerve and precision in Kampala, where rhythm shifts with every roar and where a single transition can swing the entire narrative.
TSG verdict on East Africa and the power of Pamoja
The CAF Technical Study Group has tracked the tournament closely and their view is that East Africa is not just hosting a party, it is competing with conviction. As all three co-hosts advanced, and with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda topping their groups, the analysis points to tangible progress in mentality and method.
Oscar Mirambo praised the belief that has pushed teams to work harder. Mark Fish spoke of proof that something is right in the local leagues. Michael Amenga highlighted tactical and technical growth, and the value of CHAN as exposure ahead of AFCON 2027.
This is not abstract praise. It is a recognition that structures are evolving, that young players, including those with U17 and U20 experience, are finding a platform here, and that the region can step onto bigger stages with more than hope. The Pamoja idea, together, is no longer just a slogan. It is embedded in packed venues and performances that match the mood.
Key storylines to watch
- Attack versus defense in Kampala, Uganda’s five scored against Senegal’s one conceded,
- Hosts with momentum, Kenya and Tanzania looking to make history in front of their fans,
- Champions on trial, can Senegal’s new-look group impose control under pressure.
The tactical beats that could decide Uganda vs Senegal
Midfield traffic will be decisive. If Uganda can tilt second balls and keep the tempo high, they can challenge Senegal’s structure and find the kinds of entries that lead to penalties, cut-backs and deflections. The return of Joel Sserunjogi offers control in possession and bite without it, the sort of balance that can steady the team when the match swings.
For Senegal, the first 20 minutes are critical. Quiet the crowd, compress distances, and deny Uganda’s runners the space to combine, and chances will come in transition. If the champions hold their line and keep set pieces clean, the contest shifts toward their comfort, small margins, few mistakes, and a premium on the first goal.
What comes next for the region
Regardless of the quarter-final outcomes, this has already been a landmark chapter for East Africa. The co-hosts have not only filled stadiums, they have also filled belief. The TSG’s emphasis on tactical growth and player development suggests the impact will outlast the final whistle of Pamoja 2024 and carry into AFCON 2027 preparations.
For now, the focus is immediate. Nairobi expects, Dar es Salaam expects, Kampala demands. If football rewards energy and clarity, then the next two nights will belong to the teams that show both, and to the fans whose voices have already reshaped the feel of this tournament.
Quarter-finals at a glance
- Kenya v Madagascar, Friday 22 August, 17:00, Nairobi
- Tanzania v Morocco, Friday 22 August, 20:00, Dar es Salaam
- Sudan v Algeria, Saturday 23 August, 17:00, Zanzibar City
- Uganda v Senegal, Saturday 23 August, 20:00, Kampala.
In the end, tournaments are defined by nights like these. The scale of the crowd, the bite of the duels, the silence before a penalty, the sudden thunder after a net ripples. East Africa has shown it can compete with the rest of the continent, and now it stands ready for another leap. Kampala is set, Senegal are ready, Uganda believe. The game will tell the rest.
