Algeria outclass hosts Uganda in CHAN 2024 opener
Algeria made a commanding start to their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 campaign with a clinical 3-0 victory over co-hosts Uganda at a packed Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Monday evening.
Goals from Ayoub Ghezala, Abderrahmane Meziane and Soufiane Bayazid sealed the win for the North African giants, who once again displayed their tournament pedigree with an organised, composed and tactically efficient performance that left the Cranes chasing shadows.
The result marks Algeria’s third consecutive win over Uganda at CHAN, extending their unbeaten group stage record in the competition to seven matches. ,
For Uganda, it was a sobering return to familiar struggles, as their hunt for a first-ever knockout appearance at CHAN continues.
Ghezala strikes to silence home crowd
The opening exchanges were scrappy, with Uganda buoyed by the home crowd but unable to find early rhythm.
Algeria, in contrast, settled into their passing game, and broke the deadlock in the 36th minute.
A well-delivered corner from Meziane found Ayoub Ghezala at the near post, and the midfielder’s glancing header beat goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa at his near post to put Algeria ahead.
It was a deserved lead for the Desert Foxes, who had begun to dominate territory and possession.
The Cranes responded with long-range efforts from Joel Sserunjogi and Patrick Kakande, but Zakaria Bouhalfaya in the Algerian goal was equal to the task, producing a smart save in first-half stoppage time to deny Kakande and preserve the lead at the break.
Clinical Algeria turn the screw
Uganda emerged with more urgency in the second half, but Algeria’s composure and compactness proved difficult to breach. As the hosts committed men forward, Algeria struck on the counter.
In the 76th minute, Meziane doubled the advantage with a cool left-footed finish after a clever lay-off from Messalla Merbah.
Just three minutes later, Bayazid put the result beyond doubt, slotting home from close range after good build-up play by Naoufel Khacef.
It was a punishing spell for Uganda, who had shown promise but were undone by lapses in defensive concentration and Algeria’s ruthless efficiency.
Cranes fail to capitalise on key moments
Despite the scoreline, Uganda had their moments. Midfielder Karim Watambala tested the Algerian defence with two shots from distance, and Gavin Kizito’s 60th-minute header forced Bouhalfaya into another smart save.
Substitutes Yunus Sentamu and Reagan Mpande added urgency in the closing stages, but Algeria’s backline—marshalled by Adem Alilet and Ilyés Chétti—held firm.
Uganda’s night ended in frustration as substitute Shafik Kwikiriza picked up a yellow card in stoppage time.
The Cranes now face a daunting task in Group C, with matches against Niger and South Africa to come.
Algeria’s record speaks volumes
The result extended Algeria’s remarkable CHAN record—now 10 clean sheets in 13 matches.
They have gone 712 minutes without conceding a goal in open play in the competition, with their last such concession coming in the 2011 third-place match against Sudan.
With key players like Meziane and Mahious firing and a system built on structure and game management, Algeria look well-positioned to challenge for the title they narrowly missed in 2022.
What next?
Uganda will hope to bounce back in their second Group C match against South Africa, while Algeria face Niger next and could seal early qualification with another victory.
As CHAN PAMOJA 2024 unfolds, Algeria’s statement win in Kampala could be the benchmark against which the rest of Group C measures itself.