As the Uganda Cranes prepare to host the Algerian national team at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on Monday evening, head coach Paul Put has expressed his belief in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
Speaking to the media on Sunday afternoon, Put acknowledged the quality of their opponents but insisted that his team will not be intimidated by the challenge.
“I think we know we’re going to play a big team, one of the big teams in Africa, so it’s not going to be an easy game for us,” the Belgian tactician admitted.
“But I have the belief, based on what I’ve seen against Botswana, that we can make it difficult for Algeria.”
Despite the Algerians’ pedigree and recent loss to Guinea, which has left them eager to bounce back, Put remains confident in his team’s ability to compete.
“We don’t underestimate. We respect Algeria, we know that they have many big players playing in big teams,” he said.
Paul Put admitted that he hasn’t had enough time to prepare the team after the Botswana game, but he is undeterred, stating that mentality and mindset will be key factors in their approach to the game.
“It’s very difficult to prepare a team in 2 days because players need recovery,” he acknowledged, “but I think it’ll be necessary that we show the mentality and we have a good mindset towards the game.”
The Uganda-Algeria match is scheduled for Monday, June 10th at 7 pm local time, and both teams will be aiming to win in order to move to 9 points and have very high chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
