Namboole, Uganda: Uganda Cranes head coach Morley Byekwaso has rallied his players and fans ahead of a crucial Group C opener against Algeria in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 tournament at Mandela National Stadium today, Monday, August 4.
Uganda, hosting CHAN for the first time under the East African co-hosting arrangement “PAMOJA 2024”, will need a strong performance to progress beyond the group stages for the first time in seven tournament appearances.
But in his pre-match press conference to the media on Sunday, Coach Byekwaso said the team is physically fit, mentally ready, and eager to make a statement as they begin their campaign on home soil.
“The boys must have a serious mentality. We are playing at home, and our group is very tricky. But a good start will put us on the safe side,” he said.
“This time, things are different,” Byekwaso added. “We are well prepared. Our players are injury-free and motivated. The training has been smooth and everyone is in good shape.”
The Cranes, drawn in the so-called Group of Death alongside Algeria, South Africa, Guinea, and Niger, are banking on the home crowd to lift them. Uganda has never progressed beyond the group stages since debuting in 2011, winning just two of their 18 CHAN matches, against Burkina Faso (2014) and Senegal (2022).
Byekwaso, a former Uganda Cranes midfielder, best known for guiding the Uganda U-20 team to the AFCON final in 2021, is poised to bring the same tactical discipline and belief to the senior home-based team, supported by assistant coach Fred Muhumuza, a calm and meticulous tactician.
“It has been wonderful. We are at home, and we are going to do our best because we have our supporters behind us,” said Byekwaso.
He urged Ugandans to fill Namboole and create a powerful atmosphere. “Let all Ugandan fans come and view what we have prepared. This team is ready to make history,” he added.
Cranes captain Allan Okello, who will be making his CHAN debut, emphasized the importance of collective leadership and the team’s hunger to rewrite Uganda’s history at the tournament.
“Being a leader is a blessing from God. However, on the pitch, everyone must be a leader who knows what to do. We are more than ready, and we need to give it our best. Every player wants to make history for the first time, so everyone will give their best,” Okello stated.
Reflecting on Uganda’s previous clash with Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a narrow 2-1 loss at Namboole, the Vipers SC forward said the team had drawn critical lessons and would not repeat past mistakes.
“We played them in the World Cup qualifiers and lost, but we learned from our mistakes. There’s no room for other mistakes. We need to make history in front of our fans, so we are prepared.”
He also rallied Ugandan supporters to turn up in large numbers at Namboole, stressing the impact of fan energy on player performance. “You can get tired for some minutes, but when you hear voices behind you, you push on. We need fans to fill up Namboole tomorrow and in all the upcoming games — we can make history together.”
On the other side, Algeria head coach Madjid Bougherra praised Uganda’s hospitality but issued a strong warning that his team is equally ready for the challenge.
“I thank Uganda for the reception. The country is peaceful. We are ready to face Uganda. We know what it means to play in front of your fans at home, but we are prepared for it,” he told the media at the same press conference.
Bougherra acknowledged Uganda’s quality and stressed that the tournament opener would be a decisive moment in setting the tone.
“We expect a tough game. We know Uganda will do anything to make their fans proud. It’s a good game to start with — when you win it, it puts you there as a competitor for the championship.”
He added that Algeria is no stranger to pressure environments and would not be intimidated by a packed Namboole. “We’ve played before huge crowds and we are looking forward to the match against Uganda. It won’t be an easy game, but we are ready.”
“We need to take it game by game. It’s a different competition, teams change, so everyone starts as a favorite. We want to go as far as possible. The pressure is on Uganda, not us.”
The most recent meeting between Uganda and Algeria came in the World Cup qualifiers in June 2024, when the Cranes lost 2-1 at Namboole, with teenage sensation Travis Mutyaba netting Uganda’s only goal.
The CHAN 2024 tournament is being jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, under the theme PAMOJA 2024. Uganda’s Group C fixtures will be played in the capital, Kampala at the refurbished Mandela National Stadium, popularly known as Namboole.
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