Dar es Salaam. The TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 has reached its decisive stages, as former champions Senegal and Morocco are joined in the semi-finals by surprise packages, Madagascar and Sudan.
Yet, while attention shifts to the final four, the legacy of this tournament will forever be linked to the journeys of four nations whose quarter-final exits spoke volumes about football’s growth across Africa.
These countries are none other than Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Algeria.
Each of these sides bowed out at the last-eight stage, but none left quietly.
They exited with reputations enhanced, fanbases inspired, and foundations laid for the future.
For many, their performances will be remembered as much as the eventual champion’s triumph.
Kenya’s Dream Debut on Home Soil
Few stories in this CHAN shone brighter than that of Kenya.
Playing in their debut tournament and co-hosting on home soil, the Harambee Stars carried a wave of national pride that made them one of the sensations of PAMOJA 2024.
Kenya stunned the continent by overcoming two-time champions Morocco and a seasoned Zambian side during the group stages, securing an unprecedented quarter-final berth at their very first attempt.
The achievement was historic, a signal that Kenyan football, often accused of underachieving, was finally ready to step onto the continental stage.
The quarter-final clash against Madagascar in a packed Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, was a drama befitting their fairy tale rise.
Alphonce Omija’s towering header sent the stadium into raptures, and for a fleeting moment, Kenya dared to dream of the semi-finals.
VAR denied them a potential second goal, shifting the momentum back towards their opponents.
Madagascar clawed their way back and ultimately edged Kenya 4-3 in a nerve-jangling penalty shoot-out.
Yet even in defeat, there was no shame. Benni McCarthy’s young side had showcased defensive steel, tactical maturity, and attacking flair.
Players like Ogam and Manzur emerged as fresh hopes for the nation’s footballing future, while the team’s resilience proved that East Africa could compete with Africa’s giants.
Tanzania’s Fairytale Stopped by Morocco’s Experience
Another co-host, Tanzania, also etched its name into CHAN folklore.
The Taifa Stars enjoyed their best-ever run in the competition, topping Group B unbeaten and delighting crowds in Dar es Salaam with their energetic performances.
Under the guidance of Hemed Suleiman, Tanzania combined defensive resilience with creativity in midfield, sparking dreams of going even further.
Their quarter-final showdown with Morocco, however, brought them face-to-face with a side seasoned in big-game pressure.
Despite pressing bravely and creating several promising chances, Tanzania were undone by a moment of Moroccan quality, as Youssef Belammari and Oussama Lamlaoui orchestrated the move that sealed a narrow 1-0 victory.
For Tanzania, though, the result did not diminish the scale of their progress.
Their campaign symbolised growth, passion, and unity — a powerful message to their supporters that the Taifa Stars can aspire to greater heights.
Uganda Break Through Their Ceiling
For Uganda, CHAN 2024 was a story of breaking barriers.
After years of near misses, the Cranes finally reached the knockout stages, marking their first-ever quarter-final appearance in the tournament.
Their performance against holders Senegal in Kampala was one of the most stirring displays of the tournament.
Roared on by over 35,000 fans at the Mandela National Stadium, Uganda matched the champions for intensity, enjoyed greater possession, and fashioned more opportunities.
Yet, experience once again proved decisive.
Oumar Ba’s composed 62nd-minute finish gave Senegal a slender lead that they never relinquished.
Goalkeeper Marc Diouf and defender Seyni Ndiaye then shut the door on Uganda’s late surge.
Still, the Cranes walked away with their heads held high.
A spirited comeback draw against South Africa, combined with their fearless approach against Senegal, announced Uganda as a side ready to challenge Africa’s heavyweights.
Algeria’s Stunning Fall in Zanzibar
If East Africa’s progress was one half of the quarter-final narrative, Algeria’s collapse was the other.
Entering CHAN 2024 as one of the pre-tournament favourites, the Desert Foxes were unbeaten in 10 matches and boasted a pedigree as finalists in 2022.
But in Zanzibar, they encountered a Sudanese side brimming with determination.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, forcing penalties a scenario that often reduces giants to equals.
Mohamed Abooja’s penalty heroics for Sudan turned the night into a nightmare for Algeria, sending them crashing out earlier than anyone had anticipated.
For coach Madjid Bougherra and his players, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Algeria had arrived in East Africa with serious ambitions of finally lifting the trophy, only to see their campaign unravel at the last eight.
Yet, even in disappointment, their performances in the group phase reinforced their status as a side with enviable depth and technical quality.
Exits That Enriched the Tournament
While Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Algeria will not contest the semi-finals, their contributions to CHAN 2024 cannot be overstated.
Kenya’s fearless debut, Tanzania’s spirited hosting, Uganda’s long-awaited breakthrough, and Algeria’s shocking downfall combined to create a tournament rich in drama and emotion.
For fans across the continent, these were the stories that captured imaginations the reminder that in African football, no match is predictable, and every underdog has a voice.
As Senegal, Morocco, Madagascar, and Sudan prepare for the semi-finals, the shadow of those who departed at the quarter-final stage lingers.
Their journeys may have ended early, but their legacy at CHAN 2024 is already secure.
