The dream of seeing an East African nation reach the finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 ended in heartbreak after Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were all eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
The co-hosts had carried the hopes of a region desperate for continental recognition in men’s football.
Stadiums across Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam had been packed to capacity, creating an atmosphere that captured Africa’s attention.
Yet the last four will now feature Senegal, Morocco, Sudan and Madagascar, leaving East Africa on the outside looking in.
Kenya, making their debut in the competition, fell to Madagascar on penalties at Kasarani after a spirited display.
Alphonce Omija’s goal briefly raised hopes of a historic semi-final berth, but the visitors fought back and held their nerve in the shoot-out.
In Tanzania, the hosts suffered a similar fate against Morocco. Backed by a raucous 41,000 crowd at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the Taifa Stars pushed the two-time champions but were undone by Oussama Lamlaoui’s solitary strike.
Uganda, meanwhile, bowed out in Kampala against holders Senegal. The Cranes dominated possession and territory yet lacked a cutting edge in the final third, and were punished when Oumar Ba struck the winner.
For East Africa, the exits are a bitter pill. Each host team had shown flashes of quality, but when it mattered most, inexperience and profligacy proved costly.
Still, PAMOJA 2024 has been transformative. The atmosphere in the stands, the continental spotlight, and the emergence of new talents have given East Africa renewed confidence that their time will come.
For now, the region must watch as others contest the final, but the seeds of future triumph have been planted.
