Algeria’s Bougherra respects Uganda but stays focused

The Uganda Cranes are set to begin their journey in the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 tournament, co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, with a much-anticipated opener against Algeria on Monday at 8:00 PM at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

Algeria’s head coach Madjid Bougherra acknowledged Uganda’s warm hospitality and the challenge of playing against the hosts but declared his team was ready for battle.

“I thank Uganda for the reception. The country is peaceful. We are ready to face Uganda. We know what it means playing with your fans home, but we are prepared for it,” he said.

He admitted Uganda would be no easy opponent, especially on home turf: “We expect a tough game. We know Uganda will do anything to make their fans proud. It’s a good game to start with — when you win it, it puts you there as a competitor of the championship.”

With past experiences playing in high-pressure environments, Bougherra remained composed and passed the mental weight to the hosts.

“We’ve played before huge crowds, and we are looking forward to the match against Uganda. It won’t be an easy game, but we are ready,” he added.

“We need to take it game by game. It’s a different competition as teams change, so everyone starts as a favorite. We want to go as far as possible. The pressure is on Uganda as they are home, not us,” Bougherra continued.

Their last meeting — a 2-1 victory for Algeria in World Cup qualifying — remains fresh in memory, but this time will be with local players only.