The Senegal Masterclass That Downed the Cranes

For 60 minutes inside a raucous Namboole, Uganda did most of the talking. On the pitch with their boots, in the dugout with tactical urgency, and in the stands where 32,020 fans roared as the 12th Man.

The Cranes staged a daring onslaught.

This was a host nation chasing another slice of history after making it this far for the first time in seven attempts at the African Nations Championship.

But defending champions Senegal arrived with a clear game plan. Calm, composed, and tactically astute, the Lions of Teranga played like a side that had already seen this script and knew how it would end.

When Libasse Gueye picked up the ball on the left and attempted to waltz into the box, three Cranes defenders closed him down. With no clear path, he opted for a chance cross.

Herbert Achayi only needed a simple clearance, but a misjudged header let the ball fall invitingly to Oumar Ba, with the forward driving home a low shot past Joel Mutakubwa’s despairing leg block.

The stadium fell into stunned silence as the home fans watched a promising game slip away.

Uganda dominated possession, registering 58% of the ball and taking 15 shots compared to Senegal’s seven. Yet the well-drilled Lions of Teranga defended with confidence, closed spaces in the final third, and managed the tempo when danger loomed.

Coach Morley Byekwaso rued the missed opportunities and injuries that forced tactical adjustments.

“We lost this game today. Thank God we gave our best. In such a difficult match, we missed some chances, and that cost us dearly,” he said.

Oh Morley, your best was not enough here and the result says it all.

The goal on 62 minutes meant there was still plenty of time – after all there was only eight minutes to play with Uganda 3-1 down against South Africa last time out – but few homes fans were expecting another miracle.

It is down to how the West African champions were playing.

Phiona Fifi Namiiro, of the NBS Sport, said Senegal managed the game well after scoring.

“They were always throwing a few bodies up-front as the rest protected their goal area,” she said.

“Uganda got so near but failed to be clinical and have been punished for waking up late in the game.”

For most of the game, actually, that is what Senegal did. They had tall legs covering all the dangerous spots and arrived at every attack from the Cranes with precision interceptions.

Once they took the lead, they defended the same way they had but gave a lesson in game management without indulging in time-wasting. It was just about filling the spaces and let the Cranes do the running a they held their boots waiting to just intercept and taking the ball as forward as they could.

This kind of mental strength and precise execution made the difference.

Coach Souleymane Diallo praised his team’s focus and discipline, explaining that strategic decisions in the final stages ensured the Cranes could not capitalize.

Their statistics reinforced this mastery: 14 successful tackles with just six fouls, frustrating Uganda’s efforts despite conceding more possession.

The defeat ends Uganda’s best-ever CHAN campaign, having reached the knockout stage for the first time, while Senegal march into the semi-finals, showcasing the blend of experience, tactical discipline, and mental resilience that defines champions.

For the Cranes, the evening was a reminder that passion and ambition must be paired with composure and strategy to succeed at the highest level.

From Namboole, it is back to the dusty Kisaasi to pack up and leave the much derided team hotel. It is as well Uganda were out, some say, adding that the Cranes took social media influencers to motivate the team ahead of the Senegal tie.

Well, if Senegal had to do the same, they probably would have flown in Mane or Diouf even if they have that TikTok millionaire Khaby Lame.

The jinx of Pamoja ensured that, together, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania topped their respective groups, and Pamoja, they fell in the knockout round.