Bougherra Faces Tough Decisions as Algeria’s CHAN 2024 Squad Selection Nears
Algeria’s national A’ team coach, Bougherra, has admitted that finalising his squad for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) will be a difficult task, following a closely contested friendly against Rwanda.
Speaking after Algeria’s 2–0 victory on Monday evening at the Mustapha-Tchaker Stadium in Blida, Bougherra acknowledged the selection challenge he now faces.
“I believe we have given everyone a fair opportunity to prove themselves. At this stage, finalising the list for CHAN 2024 is proving to be a real dilemma,” the coach said in his post-match press conference.
The match, described by Bougherra as a “serious test”, offered valuable insight into the readiness of both established and emerging players.
Rwanda, known for their physical style and tactical discipline, pushed Algeria throughout the encounter, simulating the kind of opposition the team is expected to face in the tournament.
Bougherra used the match to experiment with player rotations and formations, fielding two different line-ups across the two halves. The strategy, he explained, was aimed at evaluating the squad’s depth and testing the adaptability of newer players under pressure.
“I wanted to see how each player performed in a match of this intensity. The first half was clearly stronger, which was to be expected due to fewer changes, but the entire game gave us positive feedback,” he said.
Goals from Paradou AC’s Boulbina in the 40th minute and CR Belouizdad defender Khacef in the 71st sealed the win. The opener came after sustained pressure, with Boulbina, the current top scorer in Algeria’s Ligue 1 Mobilis, converting a clinical finish. The second goal was the product of sharp link-up play, with Khacef finding the net following a precise assist from Kohili.
This fixture marked the first in a series of preparatory matches as Algeria continues its build-up to CHAN 2024, which will now take place from 2 to 30 August 2025 across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
It also followed Algeria’s successful qualification over Gambia last month, with a 3–0 win in Annaba securing their spot after a goalless draw in the first leg in Bakau.
Despite several absences due to injury and club commitments, Bougherra’s reshuffled squad delivered a performance that gave the technical staff reasons for optimism. “Some players were missing, but those who stepped in showed their worth. We are shaping a team that blends youth with experience,” Bougherra stated.
In a noteworthy show of openness, Bougherra made it clear that selection remains fluid. “The national team doors are still open to those not present today,” he added, indicating that standout domestic performances in the coming weeks could still influence his final decisions.
Algeria will compete in Group C of the tournament, facing Uganda, Niger, Guinea, and South Africa—nations with strong domestic leagues and competitive local talent pools. The coach will have to consider not only current form but also the strategic balance of the squad as he aims to assemble a team capable of contending for the title.
Meanwhile, Rwanda, led by Algerian-born coach Adel Amrouche, suffered their second defeat to Algeria in less than a week, having also lost 2–0 in a previous friendly held at the Chahid-Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine.
With just under two months until CHAN kicks off, all eyes now turn to Bougherra’s next moves, as the competition intensifies and the window for final adjustments begins to close.
