East Africa’s hopes at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 came to an end after Uganda Cranes lost to Senegal in the quarter-finals. This followed earlier exits by Kenya’s Harambee Stars and Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, who also failed to progress past the knockout stages.
The defeat means all three East African teams are out of the competition, raising questions about what must change for the region to succeed in future tournaments.
The final blow came when Uganda lost 1-0 to Senegal, despite showing promise in the group stages. Before that, Kenya’s Harambee Stars had fallen to Madagascar in a penalty shootout, after a tense 0-0 draw at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on August 22, 2025. Tanzania, too, was eliminated after a narrow 2-1 loss to Côte d’Ivoire.
Football analysts point to poor preparations, lack of mental strength during high-pressure moments, and failure to convert scoring chances as key reasons for the early exits.
“If at all Harambee Stars had prepared for penalties, their body language did not show it,” one analyst observed, referring to Kenya’s painful shootout loss.
Another major challenge is player development. East African teams rely heavily on domestic leagues that lack competitive depth compared to West and North African leagues. This makes it difficult for players to cope with the intensity of continental tournaments.
Experts say the region must, Invest in youth football and grassroots programs, Improve mental preparation for big matches, Upgrade local league standards to be more competitive and Embrace sports science and modern coaching methods.
Despite the disappointment, fans and coaches remain hopeful. Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania have talented players, but experts believe only long-term planning and serious investment can help East Africa challenge the dominance of football giants like Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco.
