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.

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.