Co-hosts Uganda will face defending champions Senegal in a heavyweight quarterfinal at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 on Saturday. This is the second CHAN meeting between Uganda and Senegal. Uganda won 1-0 in 2022.
Uganda are facing a defending champion for the second time after losing 5-2 to Morocco in 2020.
Senegal are playing a CHAN host for the third time, having drawn 0-0 with Côte d’Ivoire in 2009 and Algeria in the 2022 final, which they won on penalties.
Senegal have yet to score or concede against a host nation.
This is Uganda’s ninth match against West African opponents, with a record of P8 W4 D2 L2.
They have won three of their last four against West African teams, including two at this edition.
Senegal are facing East African opponents for the fifth time (P4 W2 D1 L1).
They have not scored in their last two such meetings.
Uganda have scored eight and conceded six goals in four games, while Senegal have scored two and conceded once.
Uganda’s shot conversion rate is 22.86%, while Senegal’s is 11.76%, the lowest of the quarterfinalists.
Uganda – Key Facts
· Reached the knockout stages for the first time at their 7th attempt.
· Eliminated in the group stage at all six previous tournaments.
· Scored eight goals, their highest tally at a single edition.
· Came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with South Africa in the group stage.
· Last five matches have produced goals; last 0-0 draw was against DR Congo in 2022.
· Scored in three consecutive games for the first time at CHAN.
· Failed to score in only one of their last five games (vs Algeria).
· Conceded six goals, their second-highest total at a CHAN.
· Kept two clean sheets, equalling their best tally from 2022.
· Allan Okello has scored three goals in three straight matches, the first Ugandan to do so.
· Okello has four goal contributions (3 goals, 1 assist).
· Scored three goals against South Africa from four shots on target.
· Scored five first-half goals and 3 in the second half, but conceded five of six in the second half.
Senegal – Key Facts
· Undefeated in the group stage (W1 D2).
· Scored only two goals in three group games, their second-lowest tally at a finals.
· Conceded just one goal, as in 2022, and kept three clean sheets.
· Have six clean sheets in their last seven games.
· Only one defeat in their last nine games, against Uganda in 2022.
· Currently on a seven-game unbeaten run (W4 D3).
· In their second successive quarterfinal; beat Mauritania 1-0 in 2022.
· Have played seven knockout matches: W3 L2 (including penalties).
· Won two knockout games in open play, one on penalties, and lost two in 2009.
· Featured in two shoot-outs: lost 7-6 to Ghana in 2009, won 5-4 vs Algeria in 2022.
· Mbaye Yaya’s red card vs Sudan was their first since 2022.
· Managed just one shot on target in the draw with Sudan.
· A win would make them only the second defending champions to reach the semifinals, after Morocco.
