Algeria will look to make it two wins from two in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they face Burundi in Bujumbura on Tuesday, but coach Brahim Hemdani must contend with several challenges ahead of the match.
The Greens opened their qualifying campaign with a 3-1 victory over Zambia and go into the second round as the stronger side on paper. Burundi, meanwhile, began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat by Togo.
However, Algeria’s first away match under Hemdani presents a different test, with the team having to adjust to an unfamiliar playing surface, potentially demanding weather conditions and a tight preparation schedule.
The match will be played at the renovated Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura, where a synthetic pitch has been installed through the FIFA Forward programme.
The artificial surface could be a significant adjustment for Algeria, who are more accustomed to playing on natural grass with both their clubs and national team.
The change in surface could affect several aspects of the game, including how the players move, the speed of the ball and the timing of passes.
Algeria will have only their pre-match training session at the stadium to become familiar with the pitch before Tuesday’s game.
The kick-off time presents another challenge. The match is scheduled for 15:00 local time in Bujumbura, which is 14:00 in Algeria.
Temperatures in Bujumbura could reach between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius around kick-off, meaning Hemdani’s players may have to carefully manage their energy levels.
The combination of heat and humidity could make an aggressive start particularly demanding, with the Algerians potentially paying a price for expending too much energy early in the game.
Burundi, meanwhile, are more accustomed to the conditions and will have greater familiarity with their surroundings.
Algeria’s preparations have also been affected by the demanding travel schedule.
The team played Zambia on Friday evening in Tizi-Ouzou before leaving Algeria on Sunday on a special flight bound for Bujumbura.
The journey lasted six and a half hours, with the team arriving in the Burundian capital in the early evening.
Following their arrival, the players had a short recovery session at their hotel. That left Monday as the only full day available for meaningful preparation at the venue before Tuesday’s match.
Hemdani must also deal with absences within his squad.
Amine Gouiri was released from the national team camp following the injury he suffered against Zambia, while Rayan Aït-Nouri was also left out of the travelling squad.
Despite those difficulties, Algeria have enough quality within their squad to approach the match with confidence.
Their opening victory against Zambia has provided a positive starting point, although there remain areas of their performance that require improvement.
Burundi’s defeat by Togo means they will also be looking for a response on home soil, adding further significance to the encounter.
Algeria have previously shown that they can overcome difficult circumstances away from home. A match in Botswana two years ago, played during Ramadan, provided an example of the team successfully navigating challenging conditions.
For Hemdani, Tuesday’s fixture will therefore offer more than an opportunity to collect another three points.
It will be an early test of how his team adapts outside its familiar surroundings, with the coach having to balance the demands of travel, limited preparation, unfamiliar playing conditions and a depleted squad.
After a winning start at home, Algeria now face one of the familiar challenges of African football: travelling long distances, preparing in a short window and adapting quickly to conditions that are different from those at home.
How the Greens respond in Bujumbura will provide an early indication of their ability to maintain their qualifying momentum away from home.
