Uganda Revive CHAN 2024 Hopes with Commanding 3-0 Win Over Guinea in Kampala
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Joel Sserunjogi’s precise set-piece delivery was met by Reagan Mpande, whose expertly guided header nestled into the bottom right corner, sending the home crowd into raptures. Uganda pressed for a second before the interval, with Allan Okello and Jude Ssemugabi both going close, but Guinea held on to keep the deficit at one goal at halftime.
Uganda reignited their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 campaign on Friday night with a decisive 3-0 victory over Guinea at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium, restoring belief among home supporters after a tough start to the tournament.
Goals from Reagan Mpande, Allan Okello, and substitute Ivan Ahimbisibwe secured the Cranes’ first win of the competition, lifting them to second place in Group C on three points—level with Guinea but ahead on goal difference. Group leaders Algeria remain on four points after a 1-1 draw with South Africa earlier in the day.
In a high-stakes encounter, Uganda began with urgency, knowing that anything less than victory would leave them staring at elimination. The opening 30 minutes were fiercely contested, with Guinea threatening through Kabinet Kouyaté and Ousmane Drame, only to be denied by sharp reflexes from goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa.
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Joel Sserunjogi’s precise set-piece delivery was met by Reagan Mpande, whose expertly guided header nestled into the bottom right corner, sending the home crowd into raptures. Uganda pressed for a second before the interval, with Allan Okello and Jude Ssemugabi both going close, but Guinea held on to keep the deficit at one goal at halftime.
The second half began with Guinea trying to wrestle back control, but their hopes were dented in the 55th minute when Okello was tripped in the penalty area by Aboubacar Bangoura. After a VAR review, the spot kick was confirmed, and Okello calmly slotted the ball into the left corner despite goalkeeper Camara diving the same way.
Just moments later, Guinea believed they had won a penalty of their own when substitute Mohamed Lamine Youla went down in the Cranes’ box. However, another VAR intervention overturned the decision, much to the frustration of the West African side.
Guinea made a triple substitution in search of a lifeline, but Uganda’s backline—anchored by Hilary Mukundane and Gavin Kizito—remained rock solid, with Mutakubwa commanding his area confidently.
The hosts capped off their dominant performance in the 89th minute when Karim Watambala’s incisive through-ball sliced open the Guinea defence, allowing Ivan Ahimbisibwe to race through and finish clinically for 3-0. The goal sparked celebrations across the stadium, as Uganda fans sensed their tournament was back on track.
With another round of matches remaining, the qualification picture in Group C is delicately poised:
Algeria – 4 pts (GD +3)
Uganda – 3 pts (GD 0)
Guinea – 3 pts (GD -2)
South Africa – 1 pt
Niger - 0
Uganda will now face Niger on Monday 11, August 2025 in a crucial group match, where a win could brighten its chances of a quarter-final spot. Guinea face the daunting task of taking on South Africa, knowing they need a positive result to improve their chances of progressing.
For head coach Morley Byekwaso, the result was the perfect response to the opening defeat against Algeria.
“The boys showed fight, discipline, and the hunger to win for the country,” he said post-match.
For Guinea, however, it was a sobering reminder of how quickly fortunes can shift in tournament football—one moment in contention, the next facing a mountain to climb.
