In a commanding performance, Algeria secured a 3-0 victory over co-hosts Uganda in the opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.
The North African giants displayed their tournament pedigree with an organized, composed, and tactically efficient display, leaving the Cranes struggling to keep pace.
Algeria settled into their passing game and broke the deadlock in the 36th minute.
A well-delivered corner from Abderrahmane 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.
The Desert Foxes continued to dominate territory and possession, with Uganda responding with long-range efforts from Joel Sserunjogi and Patrick Kakande.
In the second half, Algeria’s composure and compactness proved difficult to breach.
Meziane doubled the advantage with a cool left-footed finish after a clever lay-off from Messalla Merbah, while Soufiane Bayazid put the result beyond doubt with a clinical finish.
Uganda’s lapses in defensive concentration and Algeria’s ruthless efficiency ultimately sealed the win for the North Africans.
Despite the scoreline, Uganda had their moments, with midfielder Karim Watambala testing the Algerian defense with two shots from distance.
However, the Cranes will need to regroup and address their defensive vulnerabilities if they hope to bounce back in their second Group C match against South Africa.
The result extended Algeria’s remarkable CHAN record, with 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 firing and a system built on structure and game management, Algeria look well-positioned to challenge for the title.
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.
