Uganda climbed to the top of Group C with a controlled 2–0 victory over Niger at Nelson Mandela National Stadium on Monday night, securing back-to-back CHAN wins for the first time in their history and tightening their grip on a quarter-final place.
Allan Okello put the hosts in front midway through the first half — moments after seeing his penalty saved — before Joel Sserunjogi’s emphatic finish sealed the points just before the hour.
The result, coming after South Africa’s 2–1 win over Guinea earlier on Monday, takes Uganda to six points from three matches, ahead of Algeria (four points, two games), South Africa (four, two) and Guinea (three, three), with Niger bottom on zero.
The big moments
Uganda started with purpose and width in their 4-3-3. Jude Ssemugabi twice got across the front post — heading wide from Herbert Achayi’s cross (11’) and nodding just off target after the interval (48’) — while Enock Ssebagala drove the hosts forward from midfield.
The key first-half passage arrived on 20 minutes when Reagan Mpande was tripped in the area.
After a VAR review confirmed the offence and booked Adamou Djibo (23’), Okello stepped up only for Mahamadou Tanja to dive low and save the left-footed penalty. Uganda did not dwell on the miss.
Two minutes later, from the ensuing phase of pressure, Okello stole into the six-yard box to head home from close range (25’), a striker’s reaction that restored momentum and the noise inside the stadium.
Niger had their moments. Joel Mutakubwa pushed away Mohamed Abdouramane’s firm header (27’) and was alert again to gather Abdouramane’s late effort in stoppage time (90+7’).
Between those saves the Syli Nationale struggled to land clear punches, with Abdoul-Latif Goumey and Chamsoudine Loukmane Ali both missing the target from promising positions.
Uganda’s second goal showcased their transitional punch. Winning the ball in midfield, Okello carried play forward and slipped a precise pass into Sserunjogi, who took a touch and rifled into the top-left corner from the edge of the six-yard area (56’).
It was a fine finish that gave the scoreline the daylight Uganda’s play deserved and capped an excellent all-round display from Okello — scorer of the opener and creator of the second.
Control, shape and a second straight clean sheet
Head coach Morley Byekwaso had asked for tactical discipline and a clean sheet, and his side delivered both.
Centre-backs Gavin Kizito and Hilary Mukundane were decisive under the high ball, while full-back Achayi balanced adventure with recovery runs, even if Niger’s best spell came from a flurry of corners midway through the second half (66’–72’). Mutakubwa’s handling under pressure late on steadied the hosts when legs tired.
Byekwaso also managed the game smartly from the bench.
With Ssebagala forced off, Elvis Ngonde entered on 56’ to shore up the left side; Patrick Kakande later replaced Okello (77’) to add fresh legs in midfield, before Arafat Usama and Ivan Ahimbisibwe arrived deep in added time to run down the clock (90+1’).
Niger’s changes brought renewed energy — notably Salifou Danja’s deliveries from the right and the introduction of Théodore Jules — but Uganda’s shape rarely cracked.
Discipline remained a theme. Sserunjogi’s early yellow card (8’) and a sequence of Ugandan fouls either side of half-time invited territory, yet the defensive unit protected the penalty area well and kept shooting lanes narrow.
The visitors’ clearest sights were headers rather than open-play strikes.
What it means
With two wins and two clean sheets since their opening-day loss to Algeria, Uganda have built momentum at exactly the right time.
They sit top on six points, with one match to play and their fate firmly in their own hands. Okello now has two goals at these finals and an assist here; Sserunjogi has a goal to add to his work-rate on the flank.
For Niger, this was a second straight defeat without scoring. Harouna Doulla’s team manufactured set-piece pressure and forced late saves, but a lack of penalty-box precision — and the concession of a VAR penalty that changed the game’s temperature — leaves them bottom and needing a response in their remaining fixtures to avoid an early exit.
The verdict
A professional, measured performance from Uganda: strong opening, resilient middle, and composed finish.
Okello’s ability to recover from a saved penalty and then influence the game underlined the growing maturity in this Cranes side, while Mutakubwa’s late stops preserved a second successive shut-out.
On this evidence, Byekwaso’s call for tactical clarity and clean sheets is being heeded — and Group C now runs through Kampala
