Kampala, Uganda — As the sun dey set for Saturday night, Mandela National Stadium go burst with joy as Uganda‘s Cranes and reigning champs Senegal faceoff for TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 quarter-final. E no just be match; na history wey go show face.
Uganda dey shine like never before as dem don top Group C with seven points, making dis dem first time wey Cranes enter knockout stage for CHAN. Coach Morley Byekwaso, wey sabi wetin e dey do, don talk say tomorrow go be serious matter: “This no be friendly game, na knockout. We go show character and discipline. Fans dey our back, and with dem, we fit win,” he yarn for pre-match press conference on Friday (no small talk e dey make).
When dem play South Africa, e be like say dem wan japa, but fans just dey push dem with energy wey dey bring hope. Morley dey feel say dat support go carry dem through again: “The moment wey fans dey fear say we go lose, we still rise up. No be over until final whistle blow,” he chuckle.
Midfielder Joel Sserunjogi, wey don come back from suspension, dey give us ginger. “This one dey feel like final. We go fight like lions,” he talk. E dey ready to show say no be only glory dem wan, dem dey ready to bring am home as e just focus on how to help the team.
On the other side, Senegal dey pack pedigree and pressure. Dukin the group stage, e be like dem sabi only defend well as dem concede just one goal. Coach Souleymane Diallo don talk say dem ready for fight, e dey see Uganda like serious opponent, especially for their home ground. “If di friendly for Tanzania na one thing, this one na different level,” he explain.
E go be tough game as Senegal dey miss key player Yaya Ly, wey dey suspended, but Diallo sabi say second-up go fit deliver: “We get balanced squad. One player don carry title, but we no go weaken. We dey ready to show say we fit defend dis crown,” he talk.
Pape Abasse Badji, one of their shining stars, dey ginger everybody. “We know say dis game go hard, but we go follow wetin coach talk and we go give our best. Insha Allah, we go win,” he say with confidence wey fit fill up stadium.
Stat-wise, Uganda dey score five goals with two conceded, while Senegal sabi score three but concede just once — talk about defensive balance, eh? Senegal don get upper hand historically, but CHAN na leveler; only home-based players dey play here, so we go see how local strength go play out.
The winner go carry waka enter semi-finals to meet either Tanzania or Morocco, wey no dey small matter for both sides. For Uganda, na another piece of history wey dem dey aspire for, and for Senegal, na to keep their crown as dem believe say na them get am. One thing sure: Kampala’s Mandela Stadium go witness serious fight, where discipline, fine margins, and crowd shout fit decide who go move forward.
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