Uganda’s fairytale run at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 has come with both joy and heartbreak. The Cranes sealed a historic place in the quarterfinals after a dramatic 3–3 draw with South Africa at a packed Mandela National Stadium in Namboole on Monday night. Yet, even as the celebrations rolled on, they were dealt a major setback: defender Hillary Mukundane will sit out the next match.
Mukundane, who has been a rock at the back alongside Torach, picked up a yellow card in the 75th minute against the South Africans—his second of the tournament. Under CHAN regulations, that automatically rules him out of Uganda’s crucial quarterfinal tie scheduled for Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Head coach Morley Byekwaso admitted after the game that losing such a dependable figure is a tough blow, but he struck a note of optimism about the depth of his squad. “It’s true, Hillary will miss our next game. He has been very important for us, and you could see his contribution in our three matches so far,” Byekwaso said. “But we have a big squad, and I believe we shall find the right balance to keep our momentum going.”
Among those expected to step up are Arnold Odong and Nicholas Mwere, both of whom have been tested in the same position during the team’s preparations. Whoever gets the nod will have big shoes to fill, as Mukundane and Torach’s partnership had been central to Uganda’s defensive strength, delivering two clean sheets in the group stage.
For the Cranes, the setback underscores the challenges of tournament football, where discipline and squad rotation often prove as important as skill and strategy. As Uganda looks ahead to its first-ever CHAN quarterfinal, the absence of Mukundane adds an extra layer of intrigue—and pressure—to a campaign already defined by resilience and drama.
