With the taste of World Cup defeat still lingering, Egypt will have a chance to face down its archrival Algeria — again — when the teams play in the African Cup of Nations semifinal Thursday in Benguela, Angola. The two North African teams played two fiercely contested matches late last year to determine the final spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The meetings were marred by violence and controversy.
On Monday, the Pharaohs defeated Cameroon, which is also headed to the World Cup in June, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the African Cup, a biennial continental tournament. Ahmed Hassan, the Egyptian captain, dominated the score sheet, scoring twice for his own team and conceding an own goal for Cameroon. It was the midfielder’s 170th appearance for Egypt, an African record.
Fans in Egypt were devastated after their team’s 1-0 defeat to Algeria on Nov. 18, 2009, in Khartoum, Sudan, which was chosen as a neutral site. It took a special, one-game playoff to settle Africa’s fifth and final berth in the World Cup. A month before, Egypt scored a last-gasp goal against Algeria to win, 2-0, and force the playoff. But it may be remembered more for the off-field violence and accusations and recriminations.
The Nov. 18 playoff, won by Algeria, was tense and rigid, and played amid a backdrop of political wrangling and divisiveness.
Fans in Cairo are already preparing to watch Thursday’s match, looking to earn some semblance of solace from another continental victory, though World Cup glory continues to elude them. Egypt has won a record six African titles, including the last championship two years ago in Ghana, and the 2006 Cup when Egypt hosted. But the Pharaohs are repeatedly denied a turn on the global stage. They’ve not qualified for the World Cup since 1990.
Algeria, by defeating Egypt, qualified for its first final since 1986 and will play the United States, England and Slovenia in Group C.
– By JEFFREY MARCUS
The New York Times
