CHAN2024: Algeria Dominates Uganda, While Guinea Edges Past Niger Group Openers
The opening day of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 saw Algeria and Guinea both secure impressive victories, setting the tone for a competitive tournament.
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.
Guinea hold off Niger to secure first win
The win was sealed by a second-half strike from Mohamed Bangoura II, who netted shortly after the restart following a VAR review.
It marked a cagey, often physical affair in which Guinea’s superior game management and defensive structure saw them over the line in this Group C opener.
In a repeat of their thrilling 2-2 draw at the 2016 edition, expectations were high for another open contest, but both sides approached the encounter with caution, especially in the early stages.
Guinea came into the match unbeaten in open play in their last seven CHAN games, while Niger sought to avoid a third straight tournament defeat.
The first half was scrappy and full of midfield tussles. Chances were few and far between, with long-range efforts from Lansana Sylla and Théodore Jules testing the goalkeepers but never truly threatening to break the deadlock.
The tempo was repeatedly broken by fouls, and the match saw five yellow cards dished out—three to Niger.
The breakthrough came just two minutes into the second half. Guinea winger Alhassane Bangoura whipped in a low cross from the left and Bangoura II reacted first, steering a composed right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
The assistant referee initially raised his flag, but after a brief VAR check, the goal was confirmed—sending the Syli Nationale bench into celebration.
Niger responded by throwing men forward, with substitute Abdoul-Latif Goumey coming closest to equalising with a looping header that went just wide in the 76th minute.
Ridouane Assane also tested the Guinea defence with a couple of long-range drives, while Bilal Oumarou’s deliveries from the flanks gave hope of a late comeback.
But Guinea remained resolute. Centre-back Mohamed Diabaté led a disciplined back line, while Ousmane Drame and substitute Ibrahima Sankhon added steel in midfield.
Goalkeeper Ousmane Camara was rarely troubled, but he commanded his area well during a flurry of Niger corners in stoppage time.
Referee Mehrez Melki signaled eight added minutes, and Niger pushed desperately for an equaliser. A last-ditch effort by Ridouane Assane was blocked in the 96th minute, and when Abdoul Kassali was flagged offside with one final run, Guinea’s hard-earned three points were safe.
The result gives Guinea an early edge in a highly competitive Group C, which also includes hosts Uganda, Algeria, and South Africa. For Niger, it was a frustrating start to their fifth CHAN appearance, especially after a promising fourth-place finish in 2022.
Coach Harouna Doula’s men now face an uphill battle to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. Guinea, on the other hand, will look to build momentum as they chase another deep run in the tournament.
