CHAN 2024: Watambala inspires Uganda Cranes ahead of decisive group C tie against South Africa

The stage is set. On Monday night, Mandela National Stadium, Namboole will once again be painted in the red, black, and yellow of Uganda as the Cranes stand 90 minutes away from rewriting their CHAN story.

At the heart of the build-up is midfield workhorse Abdul Karim Watambala, whose words ahead of the decisive clash with South Africa have struck both inspiration and reassurance.

Featuring in his third African Nations Championship tournament, the Vipers SC star knows exactly what it means to wear the national colours on such a big stage. But beyond tactics and training, Watambala chose to focus on gratitude — and a rallying call that could push the Cranes over the line.

“We thank FUFA and the Government for everything they have done for the national team up to this day. We also thank the fans who have given us full support in all our games, right from our first match against Algeria, where we disappointed them, but hopefully, we gave them the happiness they deserve in our last two games. We call upon them to come in large numbers tomorrow as we play our last game, and we promise not to disappoint them,” he told journalists at the pre-match press conference on Sunday.

For Watambala, Uganda’s strength is rooted in unity , not only within the squad, but also with the fans who have turned up in droves.

“I also thank my fellow players because you can’t play alone on the pitch; we always have 11 players. We’ve worked together from the start and hope to continue with this spirit going forward,” he added.
Confidence, too, is not in short supply. The midfielder made it clear that Uganda’s early setback against Algeria has been transformed into valuable lessons that have since shaped the team’s revival.

“The boys are in good shape and aren’t willing to disappoint the fans. We’re all prepared and just waiting for the final day. We know where we’ve come from, and we know what it means. We had a setback in our first game, but we learned from our mistakes. We don’t want to disappoint the coaches and everyone who believes in us. We’ve had good preparations, and we’re good to go.”

Uganda situation in CHAN 2024 Group C

Uganda Cranes sit top of Group C with six points from three matches, recovering in style with a commanding 3-0 victory over Guinea and a disciplined 2-0 triumph against Niger. That run has placed them on the brink of their first-ever CHAN quarterfinal berth.

The equation is now simple: a draw is enough for qualification, while victory would guarantee top spot and with it, history.