Algeria coach Brahim Hemdani has chosen to focus on the positives after his side recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Burundi in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Fennecs were in serious trouble at the Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura after conceding twice inside the opening 12 minutes.
But Algeria responded strongly to avoid what appeared to be an impending defeat, eventually rescuing a point from a difficult away fixture.
The match was only Hemdani’s second in charge of the Algerian national team, and while he acknowledged the problems caused by his team’s poor start, he was encouraged by their reaction.
Algeria’s defensive mistakes allowed Burundi to establish a 2-0 lead before the visitors managed to find a way back into the contest.
“We conceded two avoidable goals, which made our task difficult ,” admitted Hemdani.
Despite the disappointing beginning, the coach believes the response from his players was the most important aspect of the match.
“The positive point is that we were able to get back into the game. I prefer to see the glass half full today,” he added, in comments reported by La Gazette du Fennec.
The comeback ensured Algeria avoided defeat and left Bujumbura with a point from a match they had hoped to win.
Hemdani had wanted his side to collect all three points, but he also recognised the difficulty of playing Burundi away from home.
The Algerian coach said the quality of the opposition should not be underestimated and argued that the point gained in the circumstances represented a positive outcome.
His assessment reflects his belief that matches between African national teams have become increasingly competitive.
For Hemdani, Algeria cannot afford to approach any fixture assuming victory will come easily.
The coach believes the differences between teams across the continent have narrowed, meaning even matches against sides viewed as less established can present significant challenges.
That was evident in Bujumbura, where Algeria found themselves two goals behind before they had time to settle into the match.
Rather than allowing the early setback to determine the outcome, however, the Fennecs recovered and fought their way back into the game.
Hemdani’s main concern remains the manner in which his side conceded the two goals.
The defensive errors gave Burundi an early advantage and forced Algeria to spend the remainder of the match attempting to recover.
For a coach in only his second game in charge, the response nevertheless offered an encouraging sign.
The draw means Algeria leave Burundi with a point rather than suffering a defeat after their difficult opening to the game.
