CHAN: Algeria head coach Madjid Bougherra upbeat about lifting trophy

Algeria head coach Madjid Bougherra has set the team’s sights on lifting the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) despite admitting that will be a difficult challenge.

Algeria opened their Group C campaign with a massive 3-0 victory over co-hosts Uganda before managing a 1-1 draw against South Africa to stay in second, joint on four points with South Africa and two behind Uganda who have played three matches.

Bougherra led the Fennecs to the final at the 2022 edition on home soil and is leading the side in its third CHAN tournament in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Speaking to CAF Online, the 41-year-old discussed the opening game and the dream of winning the tournament.

“I’m satisfied with the results against Uganda and South Africa. We won the first match and drew the second, but now we have to keep working hard and improve. I am very happy with the level of the current TotalEnergies CHAN tournament.

“I was lucky to participate in the last edition held in Algeria, and in the current edition there are stronger teams that are likely to go far in the tournament. This edition is beautiful. African football has developed, and this is a wonderful thing.

“The past doesn’t matter in football. We must focus on today and tomorrow. Therefore, our results in our two previous participations in the CHAN tournament don’t matter as much as focusing on our current participation. It’s different from our previous experience in Algeria.

“Currently, the environment and atmosphere are different and we are playing abroad. This is my first coaching experience in a continental competition outside our country with the national team. The atmosphere is wonderful and the competition is beautiful. I can say it frankly: Long live Africa.

“If any coach says that he is participating in a competition just to participate, it would be strange. Every coach must enter every match in any competition, regardless of its type, in order to win. Saying that we will win the title, and saying that we will try to win the title are two different things.

“We will try to win the title, but the mission is not easy. There are strong teams, and things will become more difficult as the matches pass. The technical and tactical requirements will become more complicated, and we will play every match like a final in order to win it. If we win every match, we will win the title, of course. In general, we aim to win the title, and if we succeed in doing so, it will be wonderful.

Algeria’s next two games are against Guinea and bottom placed Niger on August 15 and 18 respectively to conclude the group stage matches.