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NAIROBI: Algeria thumped Uganda 3-0 in their opening African Nations Championships (CHAN) Group C match in Kampala on Monday.

Uganda’s defeat means it is the only co-hosting nation to lose their CHAN opening match following twin victories for Tanzania and Kenya over the weekend.

Ayoub Ghezala rose high to head in an Abderrahmane Meziane cross at the near post for the Desert Foxes before the break.

Man of the match Meziane was on target himself on 76 minutes with a superb left-footed curler from the edge of the box.

Three minutes later Sofiane Bayazid put the result beyond doubt after a one-two combination
with left-back Naoufel Khacef.

Uganda were left ruing two missed chances when Joel Ssrunjogi and Patrick Kakande’s long range efforts were thwarted by Algerian keeper Zakaria Boulhalfaya.

Uganda next meet Guinea who got their campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over Niger in a tie that required frequent use of video assistant referee (VAR).

Teenage striker Mohammed Bangoura atoned for an early miss with the only goal two minutes into the second half which was confirmed after a VAR review, having initially been ruled offside.

RIYADH: Few achieve their dreams by the age of 16. Yet, fresh from high school, Ibrahim Albassam has already achieved a key life goal, leveling up to go from a gaming fan to an electronic sports professional, joining Twisted Minds as a pro player.

While millions around the globe battle it out daily in “EA Sports FC 25,” only the best of the best get to cross the white line and go for glory as a professional player.

As in real football, goals win games in “EA Sports FC 25,” and Albassam knows how to hit the back of the net, but progressing to a pro was a steep learning curve as he balanced his studies with his newfound career.

“Balancing my life as a student and with competitive e-sports was a critical part of my early journey,” he explained. 

“I always made it a priority to stay focused on my studies and exams, while also dedicating time daily for practise and improvement. That discipline helped shape my mindset as a player, learning how to manage pressure, stay consistent, and remain committed to both education and gaming.

“I truly believe that when you’re passionate about something, you’ll always find the time to pursue it and succeed. During that time, I practiced consistently for one to two hours each day to stay sharp and improve my performance.”

Albassam began his e-sports journey through the School eLeague. His talent quickly stood out leading him to represent the Eastern Province in the “EA Sports FC 25” tournament, where he delivered strong performances.

After winning first place in the School eLeague Championship, he was signed by Twisted Minds, one of the Kingdom’s leading e-sports organizations.

“The School eLeague was my first step into the professional scene and served as the gateway for me to join one of the top teams in ��������, Twisted Minds and represent them in the Saudi eLeague ‘EA FC 25’ tournament,” explains Albassam. 

“The biggest difference I noticed was the level of intensity and seriousness. In the Saudi eLeague, you’re facing top-tier players from every club, each with their own achievements and experience.

“It’s a much more competitive environment, which forces you to grow, learn, and elevate your game quickly. On top of that, representing a team like Twisted Minds adds even more motivation to perform, win, and continue developing as a professional.”

Albassam’s success is one of many examples of the Saudi Esports Federation’s success in investing in grassroots development, creating pathways for talent to progress, compete at the highest level and represent �������� in the global e-sports scene.

The Schools eLeague, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has become a hotbed for talent and a platform for aspiring players to learn, develop and showcase their abilities with opportunities to take the leap into careers in e-sports.

Albassam is grateful for the opportunities available to young players in the Kingdom and for the support of his family who were initially unsure about his ambitions but were quickly convinced that e-sports is a significant focus area for ��������, with young players like him at the forefront of its progression.

“At first, my family had some concerns about me pursuing a professional career in gaming, which is understandable, as they hadn’t seen or experienced the opportunities in esports the way our generation has,” Albassam explained. 

“Over time, they began to recognize the potential of this industry and how a passion for gaming can evolve into a legitimate and promising career path, especially with the level of support e-sports is receiving here in the Kingdom.

“As always, they stood by me. Like with any emerging field, initial doubt is natural, but once it becomes real, it becomes normal.”