Uganda Cranes Head Coach Morley Byekwaso admitted that mental lapses and pressure under the spotlight contributed heavily to his team’s 3-0 defeat to Algeria in their opening Group C clash at the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 tournament on Monday night.
Facing an organized and clinical Algerian side under the floodlights at Mandela National Stadium, Uganda struggled to assert themselves, with Byekwaso acknowledging that his players were overwhelmed by the occasion.
‘We came into this game looking to give everything,’ Byekwaso said during the post-match press conference. ‘But our defensive block wasn’t solid and that exposed us. The players were anxious, and we couldn’t transition effectively. That pressure became our downfall.’
The tone was set early in the match when Algeria’s Ayoub Ghezala capitalized on a set-piece from a corner kick to break the deadlock. Two more goals from Abderrahmane Meziane and Soufiane Bayazid sealed a dominant victory for the North Africans and left the home fans disappointed.
Uganda did create a few half-chances but lacked composure in the final third and were unable to match Algeria’s tactical sharpness.
‘After conceding the first goal, we emotionally crumbled,’ Byekwaso reflected. ‘We lost confidence, wasted good opportunities, and struggled with basic game management.’
The coach was candid in his assessment of Uganda’s deficiencies, citing issues in transition play, aerial challenges, and midfield organization as key areas that need urgent fixing.
‘We have tall players, but we were second best in aerial duels. The midfield lost shape and control, which made us vulnerable,’ he noted. ‘We need to simplify our play and keep things tighter moving forward.’
Despite the sobering defeat, Byekwaso remains hopeful that the Cranes can bounce back, with two crucial group stage matches still to play.
‘The tournament is far from over for us,’ he asserted. ‘We’ll sit down with the players, address the mistakes, and work on improving our game management. There’s still time to show our true character.’
Uganda now faces a must-win scenario in their second Group C outing against Guinea on Friday if they are to keep their knockout hopes alive. As Algeria revel in a perfect start, the Cranes must regroup quickly to avoid a premature end to their home campaign.
