Algeria dethrone Pharaohs to advance to World Cup
2009-11-19
Fennecs fans rejoiced after Antar Yahia slotted the only goal in the World Cup qualifier playoff between Algeria and Egypt.
By Lyes Aflou for Magharebia in Algiers – 19/11/09
 [Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images] Egypt's Amr Zaki (left) challenges Algeria's Antar Yahia in their 2010 World Cup qualifying play-off match in Khartoum. |
Antar Yahia satisfied the hopes of millions of Algerians when he scored the only goal in a nail-bitingly tense play-off match against Egypt on Wednesday (November 18th), sending the Fennecs to their first World Cup since 1986.
Algerians nervously awaited the final whistle from Seychelles referee Eddy Maillet before erupting into jubilation at the El Merreikh Stadium in Khartoum, watching Algeria team-mates revel in their victory by climbing on goalposts and draping themselves in the Algerian flag.
Crowds in the stands waved the green and white flag in ecstasy and shouts of "Go Greens!" reverberated through the stadium, making players forget for the moment that they were on a Sudanese pitch. Egypt fans were considerably quieter, keeping a low profile that marked a complete turnaround from their boisterousness in Cairo.
The Greens clinched their qualification for the World Cup in South Africa in brilliant fashion, in front of a stadium filled to bursting with mostly Algerian fans who flew in for the match. Algeria did not disappoint their supporters, dominating Egypt in a fearless show of determination to avenge their devastating loss in Cairo last week.
Cleverly occupying the pitch with a tactical 3-5-2 formation that left only strikers Abdelkader Ghezzal and Rafik Saifi up front, the Fennecs stubbornly hampered Egypt's attempts to dictate the tone of the match.
Egypt battled ferociously throughout the first half, creating clear scoring opportunities in the 20th and 32nd minutes. But Algerian substitute goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi, playing for Lounes Gaouaoui after he was benched for too many yellow cards, put in a brilliant performance. Chaouchi made four fine saves and rescued the Greens from damage inflicted by the Pharaohs.
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane's strategy yielded results in the 40th, after central defender Antar Yahia homed in on a standing ball from midfielder Karim Ziani to push the Greens ahead 1-0. Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary didn't stand a chance as the ball whizzed by him and found a corner in the net.
The Greens retained possession throughout the second half, roundly denying Egypt the chance to equalise. Algeria linesmen Rafik Halliche, Antar Yahia and Fouad Bougerra preserved the lead by forming an impenetrable wall around the goal that Egypt never managed to crack.
Commentators heaped praise on Fawzi, declaring him the hero of the match.
"If there's one player to whom Algeria owes its qualification to the World Cup, it's goalkeeper Chaouchi Fawzi," editorialised Tout sur l'Algerie.
Egyptian broadcasters were understandably bitter after being knocked out of World Cup contention by their arch-rivals. One journalist from Egyptian satellite TV channel El Misseriya said Egypt players performed like "fish out of water".
"As soon as they're out of the Cairo arena, they don't know which way to turn," he lamented.
Victorious coach Saadane showered acclaim on his players for their triumph over the Pharaohs.
"The players, like soldiers, gave their all on the field and were able to right a wrong after Cairo's events," he proclaimed to APS on Wednesday, as he celebrated Algeria's third-ever qualification to World Cup competition.
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GazelleDZ Posted 2009-11-19
I can't beleive that a reporter for the "Maghreb" doesn't know the colors of Algeria's flag. So let me help him out:A s one face's our flag one sees two equal fields-the left is a green (about the color of well-tended turf on a football field) and the right is a snow white. In the center there is a crescent moon with a star to its right centered on the fields of green and white. (Tunisa's flag is red with a centered white circle containing a red star and crescent moon; Morocco's flag is red with a green pentagon star in its center) Algeria's Équipe National (Les Fennecs) is often referred to as Les Verts (the greens) for the jerseys the team wears which is solid green with white numberslettering. All that being explaine, let me congratulate our fantastic Fennecs for showing heart, courage and good sportsmanship despite events which were horrendous. Mabrouk Les Fennecs & mabrouk coach Saadane & staff. Veni, vidi, vinci! Victory in Johannesburg!!!
nora Posted 2009-11-19
I don't want this humiliation and Egyptians should not stay quiet about this. This is not an ordinary game, this beating and slaying. Artists, girls and men were beaten. This is an insult. I want a reply to this. Why does Algeria cause this humiliation?
Kamel Benceradj II Posted 2009-11-19
We must give our young Algerian players credit not for their football talent, as the failure at the match prevented anything spectacular, but for the robustness of their psyche and for returning to the arena against the same gladiators four days after a defeat, something that could have traumatised them and seriously endangered their chance to qualify in a deadlocked match. But they faced them and won. I have just one thing to say: Hats off!
dchar mohamed Posted 2009-11-19
Thank you Algeria! Thank God for our victory.
djamel sekat Posted 2009-11-19
The Egyptians’ violence is no good. This is not football. Honestly, all the countries in the world are saddening. We need to play ball, and may the best win. Algeria deserved to beat Egypt with its artfulness and the style. It plays football better. It honours Arab football. I really thank the Sudanese president for his intelligence in having as much security as possible in order to avoid damage. I tell Algeria, the only Arab country that will be participating in the World Cup, to stay strong. We will have the superstar, world champion Mr Zidane with us. He will be a big fan of the Fennecs in South Africa. Bravo, Algeria! –From Norway, Djamel Sekat
youssef Posted 2009-11-19
Forever, forever, forever, forever, Egyptians fans.
عبده الرزاق المغربي( المملكة المغربية) Posted 2009-11-20
First of all, I congratulate the Algerian people for the qualification of its national team for the finals of the World Cup. This was the result of serious work by all sides in order to achieve the goal. We consider its qualification as a qualification of the great Arab Maghreb. As for the press brouhaha stirred up by the Moroccan media especially television, this was something prepared in case of defeat. There is a scenario, dialogue and film-making. There are also actors who volunteered to give the dramatic side of the story. Immediately after the end of the game, with the defeat of Egypt 0-1, one of the media clowns starts a campaign of random and even fanciful statements about the serious situation and harassment of some Egyptian fans who were attacked, according to him, with canes, knives and stones, breaking bus windows. He relied on phone calls from anonymous people who were "under siege". Then the Egyptian minister of the media speaks and confirms the statements of some anonymous parties. The oddest thing is that even if we live in the age of news supported with pictures, as evidence of these acts, all the Egyptian channels didn't have any real evidence for their statements except some pictures taken from old videos showing some people holding knives.
زينب Posted 2009-11-20
Congratulations to the Algerians for representing the Arabs, which will be at the level of representing the Egyptians themselves. This is a challenge: uniting Arabs with nice words and sportsmanship. Egypt should be selfless to make the joy really Arab. Only six countries will represent Africa. We didn't hear about any conflict or severing of relations. So fear God in Arabism and Islam. Respect the goals of the game, don't add other qualities to the Arab brotherhood other than love for God and nations.
Anonymous Posted 2009-11-20
We're with you, Greens, to the World Cup. A greeting to the president of presidents, Bouteflika.
zaho24 Posted 2009-11-20
By God, firstly we thank you for this nice initiative offered by our brothers in Morocco. As Algerians, we thank the player Antar Yahya and all courageous players of the Algerian national team who restored to us the joy which was absent as we were sad for what happened to the players and supporters on the Egyptian lands. But praise be to God, with this victory, we have proved that we are civilized. It was a clean game. Praise be to God.
WALIDSALHI Posted 2009-11-20
One! Two! Three! Long live Algeria! Chaouchi is the best. Gaouaoui is a zero!
said Posted 2009-11-20
Bravo, Greens! You have honoured us with this victory and by qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. 99.99% of the Moroccans had us on their minds during the last minutes. You knew how to tell the difference. Bravo!!!
احلام Posted 2009-11-20
An Arab sport farce Egypt Algeria.
عزالدين Posted 2009-11-20
I thank the Moroccan people very much. We owe them their manly position with their Algerian brothers. Borders will be opened and we will show you our gratitude. Long live the great Arab Maghreb. Your brother Izzedine the Algerian.
el bled Posted 2009-11-21
May God enhance true brotherhood among Maghreb peoples, amen.
Saddek Posted 2009-11-21
The Algerians’ victory was in the Green Triangle, a site chosen by Egypt, came with a saintly goal. There is no bother dramatising things and entering into a pointless political game. The Arabs were, are and always will be brothers, and football will not be the one to erase this history. On the contrary, football should expand upon this warm relationship between the two countries. We are proud to be Arab and African. We are going to do our best to represent all the Arab and African countries well. May the World Cup remain in Africa and – why not? – in an Arab country.
foot Posted 2009-11-21
One! Two! Three! Long live Algeria!
Anonymous Posted 2009-11-21
Long live Algeria. Death to Egyptians the liars who think they are greater than all Arab countries. This is caused by the funny media and films which are their lives, hahaha. We Algerians and countries of the Arab Maghreb are men. History speaks of itself. You are sons of Israel and everything is clear, hahaha. You should understand there is no Laila Oloui in the Arab Maghreb. You're the country of acting. But the problem is that your people is living with your acting, poor people who don't even have what to eat, hahaha.
هشام Posted 2009-11-21
We defeated severely Pharaohs. We will meet in the African Cup and will show you who are Algerians and what they can do.
Farid1963 Posted 2009-11-21
Dear Nora, I am really sorry to hear those comments from you. Nothing of what you are reporting has really happened in Khartoum. This is all orchistrated by the Egyptian media and actors and the Sudanese interior minister has denied all these false reports and requested explanations from the Egyptian Embassy. Such reports and lies do not help the current situation and what happened in Cairo to the Algerian team is beyond belief and should be condamned by every sportperson in the world and every football lover. I think the Egyptians have made a serious mistake by attacking the Algerian players, this has just doubled the determination of the players and supporters to win this match. This is not the first time Egypt behaved this way, and it is time for them to start playing football as it should be.
BADRA Posted 2009-11-22
Viva Algeria 1, 2, 3 bravo, with you Greens.
محمد الجزائري Posted 2009-11-22
I congratulate the Algerian national team for the great victory against the Pharaohs team and qualification for the World Cup. We're with you, Greens, and with you Algeria! The important thing is that we are in the World Cup. We don't care about what's said on the Pharaoh's satellite channel, which provoked and are still provoking every Algerian and sowing strife. I tell them, may God guide you and guide everyone who incites killing of Muslim Algerians as a result of a football game.
جزائرية وافتخر Posted 2009-11-22
Salam alikum. Praise be to God. Congratulations to Algeria for this well-deserved victory. It is the victory of sportsmanship on a neutral pitch after the masquerade which occurred in Cairo. The state, people of Algeria or even the Arab nation expected the scenario that took place. But our fighters showed to the whole world their eligibility to win against a team which took a crooked path to arrive. Now the Algerian state was not spared by the despicable media and heads of strife like El Ghandour, Ahmed Houiber, Chalabi and others. My call to my Egyptian brothers is to use their minds. We're brothers; what your media shows you is a play. Its heroes are known, I won't mention names. It is just a game and it shouldn't separate us. I hope that my voice reaches every Egyptian who has reason or has Arab blood in their veins. You should seek the truth before treating others unfairly. All Arabs are together to liberate Palestine. Enough strife.
amin Posted 2009-11-22
First of all, congratulations to us for the qualification. I wish a successful race to our team in the World Cup and to the Tunisian team in the African Cup. I am really sorry for what the Egyptian media does. I really didn't believe myself when I switch on the TV; I find poison addressed to Algeria. Has the Algerian TV talked about them the way these channels did about us? You find only one paper responding to them and they are more than four channels, this is unbelievable. Who should really be angry? Us or them? They were the first to beat us and beat our symbolic team. What happened in the brotherly Sudan is all good. There were violations which didn't exceed minor injuries, according to Sudanese government sources. I call for prudence. Algeria has followed one path for a long time. When we act, we don't talk. You are talking about severing relations. Egyptians won't harm or benefit us. It is the bigger Israel. All Arabs know this. So where is the exit? History cannot be erased. Gaza is witness, Arafat is witness on the Day of Judgment. Anwar Sadat is the symbol of treason and you boast of this. Excuse me, but this is the truth. I ask Arabs to isolate Egypt. Let it stay alone for some time, as it was in the era of Sadat.
rym mohamed Posted 2009-11-22
Egypt couldn't accept its defeat by Algeria and that another country will represent Arabs in the World Cup. Therefore, it is waging this abominable campaign against the country of a million and a half martyrs. What compounded its anger is that Algeria didn't respond to this foolishness and didn't go down to the level of the despicable Egyptian media.
Mohamed Posted 2009-11-22
This famous match allowed me to see the unwavering support of our brother Moroccans, Tunisians, Sudanese, Palestinians, Syrians and other communities. I am deeply touched. Moreover, I was very irritated by the behaviour of the Egyptian media and its artists, who denigrated Algeria and the Algerians. Instead of talking about the match, they digressed to other subjects and spread their venom. Here, such a role is reserved for women. I heard some Egyptians ask for a breaking of diplomatic relations with our country. I dare them to break relations with us. We will see who will come out the loser. Our players were injured by having rocks thrown at them in Cairo, and in spite of this we did not go off. The match was held under pressure, and I thank God that the team did not qualify in Cairo. If they had, there would have been a lot of injuries and deaths. The Egyptians are not men, there in Egypt or elsewhere. Thank you for having permitted me to speak of my disappointment with these people, whatever the brothers they are supposed to be and in spite of all the vicissitudes. –Goodbye
Med Posted 2009-11-23
Can you lie indefinitely? The World Cup qualification match allowed us to see what today’s Egypt really is. We were first of all surprised by the media campaign against our country well before the match. We didn't understand why the Egyptian television stations lied about the value of our football players, claiming all day long that our team was weaker than that of 1989, in which they beat 1-0, and that their team was the “most beautiful, greatest and most awesome.” Now, they are recognising its true value. The Egyptian people know Antar Yahia, Bouguerra, Halliche and Ziani, as well as Abou Trika, El Hadari, Zidane and Zaki. They understand that they were lied to. We also do not understand why these same channels lied to their people after the attack on the bus, claiming that the Algerian players injured themselves. How they must have been surprised when they learned that a journalist from Canal+ accompanied the team on the bus with a camera, the photos of which have circulated everywhere now. FIFA is going to punish them for these facts, but, all the same, they lied. We were also shocked by the comedy on the Egyptian satellite channels after the tiebreaker game about the Algerians' imaginary carnage caused to the Egyptians. What is truly strange is that each channel used the same footage at the same time. Fortunately, this happened in Sudan and the Sudanese authorities poignantly denied this and provided a bunch of evidence to that effect. The Egyptians will end up understanding that they were once again lied to. You can lie once, twice, three times, but you can't lie indefinitely, no matter who the people.
ندين Posted 2009-11-23
We defeated the Pharaohs with a distinctive goal that dropped their goalie. Egyptians should recognize their defeat by the fighters of the Sahara and stop these media masquerades which damage our reputation. Wish you God luck in 2014. Just an advice from a sister, I hope you will train well; if you don’t, just withdraw with dignity. Finally, you should accept defeat by our hands with good sportsmanship. As for us, God willing, we will achieve a victory which will honour every Arab.
MOHAMED from MOROCCO Posted 2009-11-23
I am happy for Algerian player and I congratulate The Algerian people by this victory and I advise the people Algerian don't care to the Pharaoh people because are Racism and narrow-minded so I wish people Algerian still calm down and relaxing with the Egyptian people in Algeria please. thanks for all and good luck in South Africa 2010.
ليبي اصلي Posted 2009-11-24
The people of Libya and China declare their support for the Algerian team against the Pharaohs. Congratulations on the victory!
bassem Posted 2009-11-24
Salam alikum. Congratulations to the heroic Algerian people. We hope God grants you success in South Africa. We're with you. Your brother from Libya.
msirdi Posted 2009-11-24
There you have it: the real nature of the relationship between two brother Arab peoples. The cowardly Egyptian dogs demonstrated their true nature, being cowards, traitors, hypocrites, sore losers, thugs, subjects, cattle… Pardon me for that last one because the animals deserve our respect for their loyalty. Now, I ask my Algerian brothers to boycott cinema, entertainment and gatherings of all sorts with these miserable lowlifes. Algeria should make them pay for their cowardice. 1.5 million martyrs will never bow down in tribute to these street urchins. The Irish were raped and they behave as civilised people. Algeria beat you loyally and you demonstrated yourselves to be cheaters, manipulators and trash bags, worse than hyenas. The Algerian people will never forget. We demand the relocation of the Arab League and the Confederation of African Football in Cairio. We demand the exclusion of this country from all of the country’s sporting events. Let us boycott Djezzy and Orascom and all Egyptian products and halt contact with these animals! Long live Algeria! Long live Algeria!
nassim Posted 2009-11-24
Hi everyone- So, there you have it. What I want to say first of all is that my name is Nassim. I am an Algerian and proud of it. I am exactly 23 years old. I am from the city of Sidi Aiche, Béjaïa. So, there you have it. I would simple like to talk to you about the Egypt-Algeria match. The match was held under truly intolerable conditions. The players were beaten and so were the fans. But no one said anything. How is it that the Egyptians still have not stopped beating us, only now it's verbally? Their channels haven't stopped provoking us. So, how can they say that President Bouteflika should ask forgiveness from Egypt? If I've said something bad about Egypt, I apologise. –Thank you
رشيد زياني Posted 2009-11-26
Algeria is great. It will remain great, Pharaohs. We are men, with our president. We are Moujahids with our players and with 35 millions. We have received your players with flowers. And you have received our players with stones. Eh, Zionists, we are proud of our Moujahids and you're proud of Israel.
ZOUHIR.NIA Posted 2009-11-27
I am Algerian. I want to say to Egyptians: If you want to succeed in the media, you should choose competent reporters who graduated from schools not midget reporters, as is the case now on Egyptian satellite channels. The strong believer is the one who acknowledges his mistakes. I also say to the fools who insulted and depricated our martyrs: Ask the land of Egypt and it will tell you about the heroism of the Algerian people on Kinana land against the first and last enemy. These rubbish, Midhat Chalabi, El Ghandour, Mostafa Abdou, Hijazi... have sown strife between the peoples of the nations. This is because they are ignorant and don't appreciate the real value of the media. I defy them to be graduates of the reporters institute. Finally, long live Algeria. Glory and eternity to our faithful martyrs. The Berber Zouheir the Algerian. May God rest the soul of the martyr president Saddam Hussein.
Eng.Hasan Al-Bahkalı Posted 2009-11-30
good news at least one arabıan team ın South Afaca 2010
Mehenna1 Posted 2009-12-07
Hi All and Mabrouk 3lina the qualification: Let's forget about the past now and get ourselves prepared for the real test which is getting through the group stages. England and USA are not going to be easy but if they fight in the same way they fought against Egypt in Khartoum and make no mistakes at the back. We will have a very good chance of get a good result. However I have plea I would like to make for Rabah Saadan. Please make our keeper Chaouchi Fawzi our number one keeper, he is much better and more reliable so please don't let us down. Yes he is young with no experience but every time he was in team I've noticed that he doesn't make mistakes and doesn't give the opponent any chance. He is one of the best keepers I've seen recently and I am sure he will one of the world cup stars if he is given a chance. So please everyone let's pass this message on to Rabah Saadan. We can do it but we have to have our best players on the field.
GHEZAL SOUAD Posted 2009-12-08
Hello- Bravo! Bravo Algerians! We are the best! My salutations go to our pride, the national team! –Thank you
momo Posted 2009-12-26
Long live Algeria, the most beautiful country on Earth! We are the best and no one can prove otherwise! We have a team of warriors! The Egyptian dogs are just girls who are afraid of the ball. They are hungry fanatics. In any case, we qualified and we don't need their support in the World Cup; our own people are enough! We are prouder of our flag and our beautiful country than anyone else.
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