CHAN 2024: Uganda Cranes Eye Another Strong Performance Against Niger
Speaking during the final press conference, Cranes’ Head Coach Morley Byekwaso expressed confidence in his team, highlighting their readiness for today’s win
KAMPALA, August 11, 2025 — Having emerged from an embarrassing defeat to Algeria in their opening match to beat Guinea 3-0 in their second game against Guinea, where they won 3-0, Uganda Cranes is more than ready to take on Niger in the third CHAN match.
With zero points in one game played, Niger sits last in Group C, while the Cranes sit second, one point behind the table leaders Algeria who have four points. The Cranes faces Niger today at 8:00 PM at Mandela National Stadium, with high hopes of securing a top spot in their group that also has hard fighting South Africa who drew with Algeria 1-1.
Speaking during the final press conference, Cranes’ Head Coach Morley Byekwaso expressed confidence in his team, highlighting their readiness for today’s win.
All games are different; each has its unique challenges and technical approach. I can’t promise you that we’ll have the same lineup, but we might make a few changes depending on the opponent. The players who performed well last time will be given a chance tomorrow.’
Byekwaso credited the fans for their support, promising not to disappoint them.
‘This game means a lot to us. We appreciate the fan base and the energy, but mostly, I thank them for showing up in large numbers last time. It was my first time seeing such a big crowd behind us,” he said. “We respect them greatly and promise to give it our all best because winning this game would significantly increase our chances of advancing past the group stages.”
Defender Gavin Mugweri Kizito, one of Uganda’s most experienced figures, is determined to keep the team’s feet firmly on the ground despite facing opponents who lost their opening match.
“We were also in that position after the first game. We will not assume it will be easy just because they lost.
We are mentally, physically, and technically prepared for tomorrow, and determined to get a good result.”
His focus is not just on winning but on maintaining a clean sheet.
“The most important thing is to win. Only afterwards can we think about goal difference. We have to win and, at the same time, avoid conceding goals because that affects the team’s spirit and confidence.”
Kizito, too, made an appeal to the supporters: “Once again, I ask the public to make a strong presence in the stadium and help us win tomorrow’s game. They were important and helped lift the team’s morale. Please come and support us!”
On the Nigerien side, coach Harouna Doulla is well aware that his side’s hopes hinge on getting it right this time.
After the disappointment of their opening defeat, he is calling for discipline, pressure and a sharp use of their strengths.
“We have to rectify some mistakes we made and pressure our opponent, using our strengths. We have to focus. We are prepared to face the fans, and that is good for the spectacle of the game,” the Niger coach said.
Doulla knows from experience that Ugandan home crowds can be intimidating, but he sees that as a challenge to be embraced.
“In all our previous encounters against Uganda, the fans’ pressure is very strong, but we will contain that pressure and fight with our fighting spirit. We have never lost in this competition, but now we have to write a new story, and the players must free themselves and show their potential.”
The coach says preparations in recent days have been intense and focused, and he also took time to praise the organisation of the tournament so far.
Niger’s captain, Abdoul Kahar Issoufou Boubacar, wants his team to approach the match with both caution and optimism.
“We have prepared for this game well in advance. It is true we were caught by surprise and lost the first game, but that is football,” Boubacar said
“Against Uganda, we will play cautiously and focused so as not to make mistakes.
He also offered a message to Niger’s supporters back home and in Kampala.
“For this important game, I would like to send a message of support: we have to be optimistic and hold our heads high. In Niger, there is a saying that nothing is impossible.”
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are co-hosting this year’s TotalEnergies African Nations Championship, with Tanzania and Kenya standing higher chances of progressing to the next round of the tournament, having performed better than Uganda in the group stages.
Full Fixture List [Chronological Order]
Saturday, 2 August 2025
- 20:00 – Tanzania 2-0 Burkina Faso – Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
Sunday, 3 August 2025
- 15:00 – Kenya 1-0 DR Congo – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
- 18:00 – Morocco 2-0 Angola – Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi [Group A]
- 20:00 – Madagascar 0-0 Mauritania – Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
Monday, 4 August 2025
- 17:00 – Niger 0-1 Guinea – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
- 20:00 – Uganda 0-3 Algeria – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
Tuesday, 5 August 2025
- 17:00 – Congo 1-1 Sudan – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar [Group D]
- 20:00 – Senegal 1-0 Nigeria – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar [Group D]
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
- 17:00 – Burkina Faso 4-2 CAR – Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
- 20:00 – Mauritania 0-1 Tanzania – Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
Thursday, 7 August 2025
- 16:00 – DR Congo 2-0 Zambia – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
- 19:00 – Angola 1-1 Kenya – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
Friday, 8 August 2025
- 17:00 – Algeria 1-1 South Africa – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
- 20:00 – Guinea 0-3 Uganda – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
Saturday, 9 August 2025
- 17:00 – CAR 0-1 Mauritania – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
- 20:00 – Tanzania 2-1 Madagascar – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
Sunday, 10 August 2025
- 15:00 – Kenya 1-0 Morocco – Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi [Group A]
- 18:00 – Zambia 1-2 Angola – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
Monday, 11 August 2025
- 17:00 – South Africa vs Guinea – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
- 20:00 – Uganda vs Niger – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
Tuesday, 12 August 2025
- 17:00 – Senegal vs Congo – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar [Group D]
- 20:00 – Sudan vs Nigeria – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar [Group D]
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
- 17:00 – Madagascar vs CAR – Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
- 20:00 – Mauritania vs Burkina Faso – Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
Thursday, 14 August 2025
- 17:00 – Morocco vs Zambia – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
- 20:00 – Angola vs DR Congo – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
Friday, 15 August 2025
- 17:00 – Guinea vs Algeria – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
- 20:00 – Niger vs South Africa – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
Saturday, 16 August 2025
- 20:00 – Burkina Faso vs Madagascar – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar [Group B]
- 20:00 – CAR vs Tanzania – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group B]
Sunday, 17 August 2025
- 17:00 – DR Congo vs Morocco – Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi [Group A]
- 20:00 – Zambia vs Kenya – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi [Group A]
Monday, 18 August 2025
- 20:00 – Algeria vs Niger – Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi [Group C]
- 20:00 – South Africa vs Uganda – Mandela National Stadium, Kampala [Group C]
Tuesday, 19 August 2025
- 20:00 – Sudan vs Senegal – Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar [Group D]
- 20:00 – Nigeria vs Congo – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam [Group D]
Friday, 22 August 2025
- 17:00 – Quarter-final 1 – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi
- 20:00 – Quarter-final 2 – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
Saturday, 23 August 2025
- 17:00 – Quarter-final 3 – Amaan Stadium
- 20:00 – Quarter-final 4 – Mandela National Stadium
Wednesday, 26 August 2025
- 17:30 – Semi-final 1 – Benjamin Mkapa Stadium
- 20:30 – Semi-final 2 – Mandela National Stadium
Friday, 29 August 2024
- 18:00 – Third-place playoff – Mandela National Stadium
Saturday, 30 August 2024
- 18:00 – Final – Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi
https://thecooperator.news/chan-2024-cranes-set-sights-on-guinea-after-poor-start/
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