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Lockdown for Algeria-Egypt clash | Lockdown for Algeria-Egypt clash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Sudanese security forces have thrown a tight cordon around the capital Khartoum for Wednesday's Egypt-Algeria World Cup play-off. | Sudanese security forces have thrown a tight cordon around the capital Khartoum for Wednesday's Egypt-Algeria World Cup play-off. |
Gates to Al-Merreikh stadium opened five hours before the 1730 GMT kick-off, with fans carefully segregated inside and outside the ground. | Gates to Al-Merreikh stadium opened five hours before the 1730 GMT kick-off, with fans carefully segregated inside and outside the ground. |
The winner of the game gets the last African place at the World Cup finals. | The winner of the game gets the last African place at the World Cup finals. |
Sudan has deployed 15,000 police after a series of violent incidents involving fans of the two countries. | Sudan has deployed 15,000 police after a series of violent incidents involving fans of the two countries. |
The play-off was arranged by Fifa at a neutral venue after Algeria controversially lost 2-0 in Cairo on Saturday, hours after their team bus was attacked by Egyptian fans. | The play-off was arranged by Fifa at a neutral venue after Algeria controversially lost 2-0 in Cairo on Saturday, hours after their team bus was attacked by Egyptian fans. |
Egypt's win left the top of Group C deadlocked, with both sides having identical records, but Algeria's coach blamed the defeat on injuries suffered by three of his players in the bus attack. | Egypt's win left the top of Group C deadlocked, with both sides having identical records, but Algeria's coach blamed the defeat on injuries suffered by three of his players in the bus attack. |
Violence between fans also flared after the game. At least 32 people were hurt, and the next day Egyptian businesses in Algiers were ransacked. | Violence between fans also flared after the game. At least 32 people were hurt, and the next day Egyptian businesses in Algiers were ransacked. |
There's going to be trouble because there aren't enough seats Nedal NabilEgyptian fan Egypt and Algeria eye World Cup Press alarm at football violence | There's going to be trouble because there aren't enough seats Nedal NabilEgyptian fan Egypt and Algeria eye World Cup Press alarm at football violence |
On Tuesday, the head of the Algerian football federation, Mohammed Raouraoua, said his Egyptian counterpart, Samir Zaher, was to blame for the trouble. | On Tuesday, the head of the Algerian football federation, Mohammed Raouraoua, said his Egyptian counterpart, Samir Zaher, was to blame for the trouble. |
"He is the origin of all the events that occurred, including the barbaric aggression that injured... our players," Mr Raouraoua said. | "He is the origin of all the events that occurred, including the barbaric aggression that injured... our players," Mr Raouraoua said. |
But Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit in turn told Algeria it must confront what he called the "saboteurs" who have attacked Egyptian businesses in Algiers. | But Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit in turn told Algeria it must confront what he called the "saboteurs" who have attacked Egyptian businesses in Algiers. |
Tickets for the match were reported on Wednesday morning to be selling on the black market for five times their original price. | Tickets for the match were reported on Wednesday morning to be selling on the black market for five times their original price. |
Egypt and Algeria have been allocated just 9,000 tickets each, with capacity at the Al-Merreikh stadium reduced by 6,000 to 35,000 for security reasons. | Egypt and Algeria have been allocated just 9,000 tickets each, with capacity at the Al-Merreikh stadium reduced by 6,000 to 35,000 for security reasons. |
Egyptian fan Nedal Nabil, who flew in from Dubai, told Reuters news agency: "There's going to be trouble because there aren't enough seats." | Egyptian fan Nedal Nabil, who flew in from Dubai, told Reuters news agency: "There's going to be trouble because there aren't enough seats." |
Hotels in Khartoum were booked out well ahead of the game, and the authorities have set up two camp sites for rival fans several miles apart. | Hotels in Khartoum were booked out well ahead of the game, and the authorities have set up two camp sites for rival fans several miles apart. |
The stakes for each country are high. The last time Egypt reached the World Cup finals was 1990, while Algeria's last appearance in the finals was in 1986. | The stakes for each country are high. The last time Egypt reached the World Cup finals was 1990, while Algeria's last appearance in the finals was in 1986. |
There is a history of trouble between supporters of the two teams and riots broke out in Egypt in 1989 after an Egyptian win in Cairo. | There is a history of trouble between supporters of the two teams and riots broke out in Egypt in 1989 after an Egyptian win in Cairo. |
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