The Uganda Cranes are just a step away from making history as they gear up for their decisive final Group C match of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 against South Africa at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Monday evening at 8pm.
Workaholic midfielder Abdul Karim Watambala, who plies his trade with Vipers SC in the StarTimes Uganda Premier League and featuring in his third CHAN tournament passionately expressed gratitude to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), the Government of Uganda, and the fans for their unwavering support throughout the campaign ahead of the big one against Bafana Bafana.
“We thank FUFA and the Government for everything they have done for the national team up to this day. We also thank the fans who have given us full support in all our games, right from our first match against Algeria, where we disappointed them, but hopefully, we gave them the happiness they deserve in our last two games. We call upon them to come in large numbers tomorrow as we play our last game, and we promise not to disappoint them,” Watambala said during the pre-match press conference on Sunday at Namboole stadium.
Watambala, one of the team’s most experienced players at this level, emphasized the importance of unity within the squad, noting that Uganda’s strength lies in collective effort.
“I also thank my fellow players because you can’t play alone on the pitch; we always have 11 players. We’ve worked together from the start and hope to continue with this spirit going forward.”
On the team’s readiness, Watambala exuded confidence, stressing that the group had learned from early setbacks and is determined to seize the moment.
“The boys are in good shape and aren’t willing to disappoint the fans. We’re all prepared and just waiting for the final day. We know where we’ve come from, and we know what it means. We had a setback in our first game, but we learned from our mistakes. We don’t want to disappoint the coaches and everyone who believes in us. We’ve had good preparations, and we’re good to go.”
The Cranes currently lead Group C with six points from three games, recovering strongly after a difficult start. Their 3-0 win over Guinea and 2-0 triumph against Niger have put them within touching distance of their first-ever CHAN quarterfinal berth.
A draw against South Africa will be enough to confirm qualification, while victory would ensure Uganda tops the group in style.
