Former Uganda international Hassan Wasswa has backed his country and Kenya to defy the odds and come out of their groups in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CHAN) tournament scheduled for August 2025.
While Kenya were drawn in Group A alongside two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo, as well as Angola and Zambia, Uganda were pitted in Group C alongside Niger, Guinea, Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2.
For Uganda, they will either play South Africa and Egypt, who will play in a qualification campaign to fill the slots in the draw for Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2. Other teams in the qualification campaign include Algeria, Comoros, Gambia, Malawi, and Gabon.
According to Wasswa, who conducted the draw alongside Mrisho Ngasa of Tanzania and Kenya’s McDonald Mariga, Group A with Kenya is the group of death but with proper preparations, Harambee Stars will qualify for the knockout stages.
“We should know we are at home and we will really have the back up of our fans, the government and all the people around the East Africa‘n region so, trust me this time round we are going to see miracles happening in the CHAN tournament,” Waswa said as quoted by Flashscore.
“My brothers Kenya, I know and I believe in them, they are going to get out of that group, suddenly Group A remains the group of death but people are looking away from Uganda’s group because remember there is South Africa, and Egypt as well and if those two teams qualify, Uganda will also be in a group of death.”
Wasswa, who retired from international football in April 2021 after 13 years with the Uganda national team, continued: “Overall, Kenya and Uganda need to bring out their A-game to the tournament, if they work very hard, I predict they will all qualify from their respective groups. I believe anybody can spring a surprise in the tournament.”
Asked whether there was any weak team in the tournament, Wasswa, who played as a defensive midfielder responded: “No team is weak in this tournament but they must all show up and play, they all know what is at stake and should aim for a good show, anything is possible.
“You can see surprises because you may think that this team is weak and they end up posing a surprise in the tournament, all in all, no team is weak, no team is strong, they are home-based players and it is all about them working very hard and achieving success.”
