Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has expressed cautious optimism following the announcement of the group stage draw for the CAF TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday January 15th at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, placed Uganda in Group C alongside Niger, Guinea, and two yet-to-be-determined qualifiers.
Coach Put acknowledged the challenges posed by the composition of the group but emphasized the need for thorough preparation.
“We don’t know which other countries we will be facing for Q1 and Q2, but it is a fine group,” he remarked.
“We may end up having teams like South Africa, Algeria, or Egypt. It is a tough group, but when you want to play the final stages of CHAN, you must face big teams. We have to focus on ourselves and prepare well,” he added.
The coach also highlighted the significance of hosting the tournament, stating that playing on home soil provides both motivation and pressure.
“We are one of the hosts and have the support of our fans. It will not be easy, but the players must use this opportunity to change their lives,” he added.
The two remaining teams in Group C will emerge from the ongoing qualifiers featuring Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, The Gambia, Comoros, and Gabon.
Despite Uganda’s consistent appearances at the CHAN finals—six editions to date—the team has yet to advance beyond the group stages.
Coach Put emphasized that breaking this streak is the primary target.
“Reaching the knockout stages is a milestone we must achieve this time. It’s not just about competing but making an impact,” he said.
The CHAN 2024 tournament, initially scheduled to start on February 1, has been postponed by CAF to August 2025 to allow co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda more time to finalize preparations.
Uganda will look to capitalize on the extended timeline to ensure their squad is in peak condition.
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