2009 Egypt–Algeria World Cup dispute
| Event |
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Tiebreaking play-off |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Algeria qualify for the 2010 World Cup | |||||||
| Date | 18 November 2009 | ||||||
| Venue | Al Merreikh Stadium, Omdurman | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Antar Yahia (Algeria) | ||||||
| Referee | Eddy Maillet (Seychelles) | ||||||
| Attendance | 35,000 | ||||||
There were disturbances before and after two international association football matches between Egypt and Algeria in November 2009, leading to diplomatic tensions between Egypt, Algeria, and Sudan. The matches were in Group C in the CAF section of the qualifying competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The first match, the final scheduled match in Group C, took place in Cairo on 14 November, with Egypt winning 2–0. The result left Egypt and Algeria tied for first place in Group C, necessitating a playoff match in a neutral country. This took place in Omdurman, Sudan on 18 November, with Algeria winning 1–0 and thus qualifying for the World Cup final tournament in South Africa in June 2010.
The countries are both in North Africa, only separated by Libya, and football matches between them are fiercely contested local derbies. Although both have long been among Africa's stronger sides, each had experienced a long drought without World Cup qualification: Algeria since 1986 and Egypt since 1990.
In 1989, Egypt beat Algeria in a decisive qualifying match for the 1990 World Cup. Player Ayman Younes later said, "It was a battle, not a football match." Algerians felt the Tunisian referee was biased; fans rioted in the stands. An Algerian player attacked an Egyptian fan. Algeria's Lakhdar Belloumi was convicted in absentia for a glass attack which blinded Egypt's team doctor in one eye. He remained subject to an Interpol arrest warrant, although he claimed goalkeeper Kamel Kadri had been the true perpetrator.
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