Pamoja! Does ’24 Chan favour the brave?
Words and photos: Badru Katumba/The Continent
August has been nothing short of extraordinary as Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania hosted the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship, commonly known as Chan.
The men’s football tournament is an opportunity for local league players to get in on the international action by forming a national side to compete with peers from other African local leagues. (You are welcome, Afrobasket fans.)
The Chan 2024 tournament was initially scheduled for earlier in the year, but the delay has given fans more time to prepare kits and stunts to meet the moment. Ugandan fans took advantage of – and delight in – this opportunity.
The Uganda Cranes’ journey has been a remarkable rollercoaster of a ride. The team made it to the quarterfinals for the very first time, to play Senegal, the defending champions.
Not even the exuberant Uganda fans who had roared in the stands of Nelson Mandela Stadium throughout the tournament were optimistic about beating Senegal’s Lions of Teranga.
On the day of the quarterfinal, the streets were alive with vendors selling knock-off jerseys and national flags, street children looking up at a giant screen at the old taxi park waiting for the game, and artists offering to paint bodies in the national colours. But even with this activity, the streets felt calmer than they had in the weeks.
At the stadium, the crowd seemed smaller than warranted at this stage of the tournament. As fans trickled in, some paused to pray on the grass, a peaceful contrast to the chaotic activity outside. One fan’s costume suggested that they had skipped their wedding for the game.
As kick-off approached, the energy shifted dramatically. Fans belted out the national anthem and the air crackled with excitement. On several occasions, fans rose to their feet, fervently cheering the Cranes. But the goalpost remained elusive. Each missed opportunity amplified the anxiety.
Senegal’s Oumar Ba scored in the 62nd minute, sending chills down spines as a drizzle began to fall. As the game approached its final minutes, the Cranes’ captain had a golden opportunity to equalise.
