Algeria struck early and never looked back, handing Uganda a sobering 3-0 defeat in the opening Group C fixture of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) at Mandela National Stadium on Monday night.
The Cranes, playing on home soil in front of a near-capacity crowd at Namboole, were outclassed from the outset. Ayoub Ghezala, the MC Alger defender, opened the scoring in the 36th minute, calmly finishing past goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa to put the North Africans ahead.
Uganda tried to rally after the break, but struggled to create meaningful chances. Their play in the final third lacked cohesion and tactical discipline. The team was repeatedly caught out of shape, and Algeria punished them for it.
By the 76th minute, the match had begun to slip away. Abderrahmane Meziane Bentahar — the CR Belouizdad forward — doubled Algeria’s lead with a curling strike that evoked shades of Riyad Mahrez. It was the kind of goal that deflates a stadium. Home fans started heading for the exits.
But Meziane wasn’t done.
His performance went beyond that goal. He was sharp between the lines, controlled in tight spaces, and constantly probing. The 31-year-old has carried over his club form — 7 goals in 29 games last season, and already 2 goals and 5 assists in 10 appearances this term. His energy and craft were central to Algeria’s dominance.
Speaking after being named TotalEnergies Man of the Match, Meziane didn’t downplay the intensity of the game.
“Our opponents played well. I lost a tooth, but the enthusiasm was there,” he said. “And thanks to God everything went very well.” He was smiling despite the physical toll.
The third goal arrived just three minutes later. Soufiane Bayazid — a late substitute, also from MC Alger — added to Uganda’s misery with a composed finish in the 79th minute. By then, Namboole had already begun to empty out.
It was a bruising night for the Cranes, who were led by assistant coach Morley Byekwaso, standing in for head coach Paul Put. The team looked disjointed, unable to match Algeria’s control of possession or their tempo.
Algeria now sit top of Group C. Earlier in the day, Guinea had edged Niger 1-0, setting up a pivotal clash between Uganda and Guinea on Friday, August 8.
That game is now a must-win. Uganda, in their seventh appearance at the Chan finals, have never made it out of the group stage. They’ll face South Africa and Niger in their remaining fixtures — hoping for more than just pride in front of a home crowd.
