Junius
JF-Expert Member
- Mar 11, 2009
- 3,181
- 139
FIFA has asked Egypt for written guarantees confirming additional security measures to protect the Algerian squad ahead of a tense World Cup qualifier on Saturday. http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v...8444/30666321/1;;~sscs=?http://www.scrum.com/
Algerian state radio reported that three players were slightly hurt when youths stoned the Algeria team bus as it arrived in Cairo on Thursday.
"Following the incidents that occurred yesterday in Cairo after the arrival of the official delegation of the Algerian national team, FIFA's Organising Committee... have asked the Egyptian Football Association and the highest national authorities... to provide written guarantees that confirm the implementation of the necessary additional safety and security measures at any time for the Algerian delegation," the sport's governing body said in a statement.
Feelings were running high in the Egyptian capital on Friday and supporters roamed the streets waving flags from their cars.
One supporters' slogan read: "Victory or martyrdom: Egypt will slaughter Algeria."
Huge billboards were hung across streets urging support for the national team. One said: "Pray for us Egyptians" and another, "Lets repeat 1989" - a reminder of the match between the two teams which Egypt won to qualify for the 1990 World Cup.
African champions Egypt are three points behind Group C leaders Algeria and need to win Saturday's match by a three-goal margin to qualify for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
A two-goal victory for Egypt would leave the teams tied on goal difference and goals scored, forcing a playoff in Sudan on November 18.
If Algeria qualify it will be their first World Cup finals since 1986 but for Egyptian supporters, losing is not an option.
A cartoon in Egypt's state run Al-Gumhoriya newspaper depicted students in the year 2099 taking an Arab History class. The teacher asks: "What do you know about Sultan Hassan Shehata (the Egypt coach)."
A student replies: "He is the one who fought the Algerians in the battle on November 14, 2009."
Mohamed Abdel Gani, a 21-year-old university student, said even though he was certain there would be violence during or after the match, he would still go.
"My dad has been pressuring me not to go and I understand his concern but nothing will stop me from supporting Egypt," he said.
"Egypt is our love and pride and we will not let it down."
Egypt's Interior Ministry said it had taken strict security measures to prevent violence during the game. Riot police were heavily deployed late on Thursday during a joint concert by Algerian singer Cheb Khaled and Egyptian Mohamed Munir.
SOURCE:SOCCERNET.COM
Algerian state radio reported that three players were slightly hurt when youths stoned the Algeria team bus as it arrived in Cairo on Thursday.
"Following the incidents that occurred yesterday in Cairo after the arrival of the official delegation of the Algerian national team, FIFA's Organising Committee... have asked the Egyptian Football Association and the highest national authorities... to provide written guarantees that confirm the implementation of the necessary additional safety and security measures at any time for the Algerian delegation," the sport's governing body said in a statement.
Feelings were running high in the Egyptian capital on Friday and supporters roamed the streets waving flags from their cars.
One supporters' slogan read: "Victory or martyrdom: Egypt will slaughter Algeria."
Huge billboards were hung across streets urging support for the national team. One said: "Pray for us Egyptians" and another, "Lets repeat 1989" - a reminder of the match between the two teams which Egypt won to qualify for the 1990 World Cup.
African champions Egypt are three points behind Group C leaders Algeria and need to win Saturday's match by a three-goal margin to qualify for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
A two-goal victory for Egypt would leave the teams tied on goal difference and goals scored, forcing a playoff in Sudan on November 18.
If Algeria qualify it will be their first World Cup finals since 1986 but for Egyptian supporters, losing is not an option.
A cartoon in Egypt's state run Al-Gumhoriya newspaper depicted students in the year 2099 taking an Arab History class. The teacher asks: "What do you know about Sultan Hassan Shehata (the Egypt coach)."
A student replies: "He is the one who fought the Algerians in the battle on November 14, 2009."
Mohamed Abdel Gani, a 21-year-old university student, said even though he was certain there would be violence during or after the match, he would still go.
"My dad has been pressuring me not to go and I understand his concern but nothing will stop me from supporting Egypt," he said.
"Egypt is our love and pride and we will not let it down."
Egypt's Interior Ministry said it had taken strict security measures to prevent violence during the game. Riot police were heavily deployed late on Thursday during a joint concert by Algerian singer Cheb Khaled and Egyptian Mohamed Munir.
SOURCE:SOCCERNET.COM
