Uganda Cranes co-coach Morley Byekwaso Ochama believes having home support will be crucial as Uganda Cranes prepare to face Algeria in their Group C opening game against Algeria on Monday.
The Cranes will take on the Desert Foxes at Mandela National Stadium in the second game of Group C. Niger and Guinea, who are also in the same group, would have played early on.
Byekwaso has rallied the fans to come in big numbers and offer the team support because it will be important to start the tournament with a win.
“We need to do our best to make history. It is the first time we are hosting such a tournament here at home and we know the nation is behind us. It is easier to win at home than away, so we are banking on home advantage,” he said.
Uganda’s daunting task and ultimate target is to break the long-standing jinx of not progressing beyond the group phase in the last six attempts.
“The target for us and everyone is to advance beyond the group stage and the players plus the technical team have been working towards fulfilling that task,” Byekwaso noted.
Algeria arrived in the country on Friday and come into this tournament on the back of finishing as runner-up in the 2022 edition played on home soil.
Under the stewardship of coach Madjid Bougherra, the North Africans will be looking forward to a positive start as one of the favourites.
