Algeria coach Hemdani plays down pitch concerns before Burundi clash

Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani says his side have no concerns about playing on the artificial surface at Bujumbura’s Intwari Stadium when they face Burundi in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Greens are preparing for their second qualifying match away from home, where conditions will be different from those they are accustomed to at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Tizi Ouzou.

The artificial pitch at the Intwari Stadium has been one of the main talking points before Tuesday’s match. Most of Algeria’s players play their club football on natural grass, raising questions about how quickly they would adapt to the surface in Bujumbura.

Hemdani, however, insists the pitch will not disrupt his team’s preparations.

Speaking at his pre match press conference, the Algeria coach said several players in his squad already have experience of playing on artificial surfaces and are therefore familiar with the conditions they will face in Burundi.

“We received a warm welcome in Burundi, and the conditions surrounding the match are good. As for the pitch, we have several players who are used to playing on this type of surface, who are accustomed to this environment. I have no concerns. Preparation is proceeding normally, even though we know the pitch will be slightly different ,” stated the coach of the Greens .

Algeria have continued their preparations in Bujumbura after arriving for the second round of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Hemdani’s comments suggest the team does not expect the playing surface to alter its approach to the match.

The coach also used his press conference to discuss Burundi and the preparation that has gone into analysing their opponents.

Hemdani said Algeria have examined Burundi’s strengths and weaknesses and will attempt to use that knowledge during the match. He also stressed the need for his players to remain alert throughout the encounter.

“We have studied our opponent. Burundi has strengths, but also areas we can exploit. The preparation is the same, whether it’s here or elsewhere. We know this team’s strengths and we will try to be vigilant in order to counter them.”

The comments underline Algeria’s focus on dealing with the match itself rather than allowing the conditions surrounding the fixture to become a distraction.

The Greens are entering the game after preparing for the demands of playing away from home, including a surface that differs from what many of their players experience regularly at club level.

For Hemdani, the artificial pitch is simply another factor to manage as Algeria continue their qualification campaign.

With the coaching staff having studied Burundi and the players preparing for the different surface, Algeria will now look to put that work into practice when the two sides meet in Bujumbura.