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Chan looking for sixth winner

Uganda Cranes go through their paces during training. PHOTO/EDDIE CHICCO
What you need to know:
The Belgian coach on Sunday released his reduced squad from 38 to 28 that entered residential training the following day hoping to be enough to shake off that statistic when the championship kicks off on February 1 through 28.
As Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania gear up to host the 2024 TotalEnergies Caf African Nations Championship (Chan), participants will enter optimistically, knowing that this is everyone’s tournament to win.
Since its inauguration outing in 2009 in Ivory Coast, Chan has had five different winners in the competition's seven edition history.
Indeed, only a couple can lay claim to even attempting to dominate this home-based players’ tournament.
Two-time winners
Only DR Congo and Morocco have won the championship more than once, each claiming it on two occasions. There have been three one-time winners including defending champions Senegal, Libya and Tunisia.
On all the above occasions - bar the inaugural edition in 2009 which they did not qualify for - Uganda have failed to progress past the group stage, a disturbing statistic Cranes coach Paul Joseph Put will want to shake off.
An eye on Nairobi
The Belgian coach on Sunday released his reduced squad from 38 to 28 that entered residential training the following day hoping to be enough to shake off that statistic when the championship kicks off on February 1 through 28.
Put will also have an eye on Nairobi on Wednesday, where the 19 nations preparing to participate in Chan 2024 will be drawn.
“Regarding targets at the tournament,” said Put when last week,”we have to wait for the draw. Then we will know.
“But as far as we are concerned, we want to go as far as possible. Let’s wait for the draw and then we can talk more.”
The winners
The squad of 28 came after three days of intensive training as the team continued to shape up ahead of the championship, to which Uganda hold record appearances at six out of seven.
But let us do a quick rundown of those that have made their appearances count. Here are the five winners of Chan since the first edition in 2009.
2009 Champions: DR Congo
The Leopards overcame the Ghana Black Stars in the final of the inaugural edition in Cote d’Ivoire, beating them 2-0 after the latter had won their encounter in the group stage 3-0.
2011 Champions: Tunisia
Tunisia clinched this one played in Sudan, seeing off Angola in the final with a commanding 3-0 victory.
2014 Champions: Libya
A second successive north African country to win the tournament as Libya showed heart and determination to beat Ghana 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw in South Africa.
2016 Champions: DR Congo
The Leopards wrote another piece of history. Having won the first edition, they became the first country to win Chan two times when they outclassed Mali 3-0 in the final in Rwanda.
2018 Champions: Morocco
More history was written in 2018 as Morocco became the first, and remain the only nation to win the competition as hosts. They thumped Nigeria 4-0 in the final to claim their title.
2020 Champions: Morocco
Morocco joined DR Congo as the only countries to win Chan twice. The Atlas Lions continued from where they left off as they again finished top of their group that consisted of Rwanda, Togo and Uganda. They knocked out hosts Cameroon 4-0 in the semi-finals before seeing off Mali 2-0 in the final for their second title.
2022 Champions: Senegal
The home-based Lions of Teranga claimed their first title from Algeria, which was also the first time a Western country was winning Chan. Senega did have a scare of their own, losing 1-0 to Uganda in the group stage but recovered to go all the way to the final, where they beat the hosts, Algeria, 5-4 on penalties. Will Senegal defend the title or we shall have a sixth winner?
Cranes 28-man Squad
Goalkeepers: Hannington Ssebwalunyo (NEC), Mutwalibi Mugolofa (KCCA),Joel Mutakubwa (Bul), Crispas Kusiima (Kitara)
Defenders: Gavin Kizito Mugweri (KCCA), Gideon Odongo (NEC), Derrick Ndahiro (Vipers SC), Enock Walusimbi (URA), Arnold Odong (SC Villa), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC), Hillary Mukundane (Vipers SC), James Begisa Penza (URA), Nicholas Mwere (Bul), Paul Patrick Mbowa (Vipers SC)
Midfielders: Enock Ssebagala (NEC), Joel Sserunjogi (KCCA),Emmanuel Wasswa (Express), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa), Allan Okello (Vipers SC), Saidi Mayanja (KCCA), Patrick Jonah Kakande (SC Villa), Isima
Forwards: Arafat Usama (KCCA), Jude Ssemugabi (Kitara), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA), Paul Mucureezi (NEC), Isaac Ogwang (Police), James Bogere (Masaka Sunshine), Charles Lwanga (SC Villa)