This World Cup qualifier received some extra attention after this video surfaced. Perhaps rattled by the violence, Algeria couldn’t get anything going in their 2-0 loss to Egypt earlier today. Thus, the teams will compete next Wednesday in a playoff to determine who makes the finals in South Africa.
Emad Meteab headed in a goal in the fifth minute of injury time on Saturday to give Egypt a 2-0 win over Algeria in a World Cup qualifier, setting up a decisive playoff between the two teams next week.
Amr Zaki gave Egypt the lead in the second minute, but the host needed a second goal to ensure that both teams ended up level on points and goal difference in Group C.
In 1989, the two faced off in a similar final qualifier, and Egypt won, advancing to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. After that match in Cairo, fans clashed in the stadium and in the streets, and the Egyptian team’s doctor lost an eye when he was hit by a bottle.
Egyptian fans greeted the Algerian team at the airport on Thursday by pelting their bus with stones and Algerian officials said two team members were injured. On Saturday, both Khaled Lemmouchia and Rafik Halliche wore head bandages while playing.
The head of the Algerian Football Association blamed the loss on the animosity.
Egypt hasn’t reached the World Cup since 1990, so a victory next week would drive the nation mad. Algeria’s last entry, however, was in 1986. After experiencing the hosility in Cairo, Algeria is happy the playoff is in Sundan, a location that supposedly offers a friendlier atmosphere.
