Uganda’s national team, the Cranes, defied expectations and made history by topping Group C, earning a coveted spot in the round of 16 for the first time ever in the tournamentʼs history, courtesy of a thrilling 3-3 draw against South Africa at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
A Comeback That Shook the Stadium
The mood was electric in Kampala as 34,000 fans roared with anticipation. The Cranes took the lead in the 31st minute thanks to Jude Ssemugabi’s composed finish from Patrick Kakande's low cross. But the momentum shifted dramatically when South Africa struck via Ramahlwe Mphahlele in the 52nd minute—his goal emerging from a lengthy VAR review—and then doubled their lead through Thabiso Kutumela just six minutes later. By the 83rd minute, Ndabayithetwa Ndiondio seemed to seal the fate of the hosts with a curling effort past goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa.
Yet Uganda refused to succumb. The resilient Cranes staged a dramatic revival—Allan Okello dashed any hopes of defeat with an 88th-minute penalty, and when the final whistle blew, a hard-earned draw had secured their passage to the knockout stage—and top spot in the group.
Setting the Stage Earlier in CHAN 2025
This defining moment capped a remarkable group-stage campaign for Uganda, which included a decisive 2-0 victory over Niger at the Mandela Stadium. Allan Okello broke the deadlock after initially missing a penalty, quickly following up to score on the rebound. Joel Sserunjogi then doubled the lead early in the second half, helping Uganda accumulate six points from three matches by mid-August.
With that result, Uganda climbed to the summit of Group C, ahead of Algeria and South Africa, positioning themselves strongly going into the final fixtures. On August 18, after the draw against South Africa, Uganda finished the group with seven points, while Algeria advanced in second place with six—both surpassing South Africa and confirming their quarter-final spots.
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