As the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 kicks off, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged a staggering Shs 1.2 billion for the Uganda Cranes for every match they win in the tournament.
The bold incentive was announced by FUFA President Moses Magogo Hassim during his address to the national team, just hours before Uganda’s crucial Group C opener against Algeria, scheduled for 8 PM tonight at Mandela National Stadium.
“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni sets the bar high!” Magogo told the team. “The President has announced a massive winning bonus of 1.2 billion per match for the team at CHAN 2024.”
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) also took to social media to echo the announcement, posting on X (formerly Twitter):“The bar has been set. It is Our Game, It is Our Country.”
The CHAN 2024 tournament, which exclusively features players active in their national domestic leagues, is already off to a thrilling start. Co-hosts Tanzania kicked off their campaign in style with victories over Burkina Faso and DR Congo, setting a high tempo for the rest of the competition.
With the promise of a billion-shilling bonus hanging in the air, Uganda is expected to be highly motivated heading into tonight’s clash against a formidable Algerian side. The financial pledge also signals a renewed level of state support and recognition for the national team at continental tournaments.
This marks one of the largest single-match incentives ever publicly offered to a Ugandan sports team and could serve as a morale booster and performance driver throughout the tournament.
Uganda will be hoping to make a strong statement in Group C, which includes Algeria, Mozambique, and Libya.
