Uganda Cranes African Nations Championship (CHAN) captain Rogers Torach has expressed gratitude and pride in his teammates despite their painful quarterfinal exit at the hands of Senegal on Saturday night.
The Cranes bowed out of the African Nations Championship after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat, with Oumar Ba’s first-half strike proving decisive at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
“We gave everything on that pitch, and I am proud of every single player in this team,” said Torach, as he addressed the media, including Footy-Uganda. “It was not the result we wanted, but we fought with heart, and that is something to be proud of.”
Torach, who led by example at the back, also thanked Ugandans for their unwavering support during the campaign.
“We felt the love and support from our people back home and in the stands. That pushed us to keep going even when things got difficult. I want to thank all Ugandans for standing with us.”
Despite the heartbreak, the captain remained optimistic about the future of the team, noting that the experience gained in Algeria will only make them stronger.
“This tournament has shown us our potential. We have young players, hungry players, and if we keep building on this, the future is bright for the Cranes,” he added.
Uganda will now switch attention to the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Mozambique and Somalia slated for September 5th and 8th, respectively at Namboole.