With the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) set to kick off in less than two weeks, Algeria’s preparations have been marred by time constraints, logistical hurdles, and the cancellation of key fixtures, leaving head coach Madjid Bougherra in a race against the clock.
The competition, exclusively for players based in domestic leagues, will take place from 2 to 30 August, co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Algeria, drawn in Group C, face a daunting group-stage campaign against Uganda, South Africa, Guinea, and Niger.
In the midst of these mounting challenges, Bougherra announced a provisional squad of 28 players last Saturday, with the final list required to be submitted by the end of Monday’s training session, in accordance with CAF regulations.
The team began its training camp at the Sidi Moussa Technical Centre on Sunday, but Bougherra and his staff are facing a significant dilemma: match fitness.
Most players have not seen competitive action in weeks following the delayed conclusion of the Algerian league, a stark contrast to their upcoming opponents, many of whom have benefitted from consistent domestic fixtures and quality friendly matches.
Hopes of bridging that gap were dealt a major blow with the cancellation of two friendly matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Algerian Football Federation confirmed that DR Congo had declined the invitation, forcing a late reshuffle of Algeria’s preparation schedule.
According to the Congolese federation, the decision stemmed from a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ordered the resumption of their domestic championship, leading to the cancellation of their training camp.
“We are intensifying our preparations,” the FAF stated, highlighting the technical staff’s focus on improving cohesion and rhythm. Yet, the absence of match practice remains a critical concern.
Despite the complications, the squad continues to take shape.
The arrivals of USM Alger’s Mehdi Merghem, Adam Alilet, and Saâdi Radouani have brought the number of players in camp to 23.
Among those called up are several experienced names, including Aymen Mahious (27), Akram Bouras (23), and veteran midfielder Mohamed Benkhemassa (32).
However, the looming transfer window poses an additional threat, with multiple players reportedly attracting interest from foreign clubs—potentially ruling them out of a tournament limited to locally-based players.
Algeria will open their campaign against Uganda on 4 August at the Mandela Stadium in Kampala, before travelling to Nairobi to face South Africa on 8 August, Guinea on 15 August, and Niger on 18 August.
With no warm-up matches and limited preparation time, Algeria’s hopes of advancing from a competitive group will rest on tactical discipline, unity, and swift adaptation.
As the countdown to CHAN 2024 continues, Bougherra’s men face the dual challenge of overcoming disrupted preparation and meeting high expectations on the continental stage.
