Uganda and Algeria kick off 2003 internationals

This will be the first match for Algeria's new coach

Algeria and Uganda will be the first African countries to play an international this year when they meet in a friendly match in Kampala on 25 January.

The game will mark the debut of Algeria's new coach George Leekens, who had a previous stint as manager of his native Belgium.

Leekens was in Algiers for the second time in a week to finalise the details of his contract and visit stadia and training facilities.

Both countries will be using the game as a warm-up for the African Nations Cup qualifiers, although Algeria do not play again until June.

They are almost certain to qualify from group 12 where Chad and Namibia have not presented any real opposition.

Algeria too strong for Chad

Uganda, who failed to reach the final of last month's East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania, play their next Nations Cup qualifier on 30 March.

They will be away in Kigali against neighbours Rwanda.

Algerian officials have also been discussing the possibility of a friendly against France in Algiers later this year.

When the two countries met in October 2001, the match at the Stade de France in Paris had to be called off in the second half after Algerian youths disrupted the game by invading the pitch.

Mohamed Raouraoua, the president of the Algerian federation, has invited his French counterpart Claude Simonet to visit Algiers to discuss the possible match-up.