Algerian National Team News

[Al-khiyal]

Artists blast Egypt, Algeria for fuelling football row

November 25, 2009 -- Egyptian intellectuals condemned as "irresponsible" the use of World Cup qualifying matches between Egypt and Algeria for political gains. According to AFP, the artists, writers and intellectuals said incidents on the sidelines of the football matches were "not innocent, nor clear of suspicions that they were deliberately used for irresponsible political gains." The statement was signed by 200 people, including Alaa al-Aswany who wrote The Yacoubian Building, a critical portrayal of modern Egyptian society. Media outlets in both countries inflamed emotions by "adding to the already war-like atmosphere" around the key games in Cairo and Khartoum. The coverage was a "deliberate way to divert people from their numerous problems... and to mask the failures and corruption suffered by the two peoples on the political, economic and social level." The signatories went on to condemn "the rumours, lies and articles which went beyond collective humiliation and racism." On Tuesday, another group of artists including renowned actor Omar Sharif, stood at the foot of the Giza pyramids to protest at the "Algerian violations" during the qualifying matches. Sharif however called on his fellow countrymen to "channel their anger into something constructive." Tensions between both countries mounted after a bus carrying the Algerian football team was stoned in Cairo last week and Egyptians were attacked by Algerian fans in Khartoum and Algiers. The crisis also took a diplomatic turn with protesters Egyptians demonstrating outside the Algerian embassy in Cairo and Egypt recalling its ambassador to Algiers for consultations.

[Al-khiyal]

Un ministre égyptien accuse l’Algérie d’avoir planifié une « opération terroriste » au Soudan

Jeudi 26 Novembre 2009 -- Une semaine après la qualification historique des Verts au Mondial 2010 au dépend de l’Egypte, le pouvoir et les médias égyptiens continuent d’accuser gravement l’Algérie qui garde étrangement le silence. Après Alaâ Moubara, fils du président égyptien Hosni Moubarak qui a qualifié les Algériens de terroristes, c’est au tour du ministre de la communication, Ahmed Abou Gheit, d’user publiquement du même qualificatif. « Ce qui s’est passé à Khartoum était une opération terroriste planifiée », a accusé, mercredi, le ministre égyptien, en allusion à l’agression présumée de supporters de son pays par des Algériens, à la fin du match d’appui entre l’Algérie et l’Egypte, le 18 novembre au Soudan. Comprendre : le ministre égyptien accuse l’Etat algérien d’avoir planifié et mené une opération terroriste contre l’Egypte sur le sol soudanais. Dans la bouche d’un ministre, l’accusation est grave. Surtout qu’en réalité, non seulement les cas d’agressions sont rares comme l’a affirmé le gouvernement soudanais, mais le Caire devrait plutôt remercier les services de sécurité algériens d’avoir empêché un massacre d’Egyptiens à Khartoum. Les supporters algériens voulaient en effet venger leurs concitoyens lynchés en Egypte, à la fin du premier match Egypte-Algérie (2-0), le 14 novembre au Caire. Ils voulaient aussi laver l’affront subi par l’équipe nationale, deux jours plutôt, quand son bus a été sauvagement attaqué par des supporters égyptiens à la sortie de l’aéroport du Caire. Mais les services de sécurité algériens, présents à Khartoum, avaient fourni de précieux renseignements à leurs homologues soudanais grâce auxquels ils ont pu maîtriser la situation. Le Caire a fait état au lendemain de cette rencontre d’agressions et de menaces à l’encore des supporters égyptiens. Mais le Soudan a protesté contre les fausses informations données par les médias égyptiens, publics et privés. La police soudanaise a démenti l’existence de cas d’agressions. Ce que la FIFA a également confirmé : pour l’instance internationale de football, aucun incident majeur n’a été enregistré à Khartoum. Curieusement, l’Algérie n’a toujours pas répondu provocations égyptiennes. Le gouvernement garde le silence depuis vendredi dernier, jour de la convocation de l’ambassadeur d’Egypte à Alger pour exprimer timidement des inquiétudes concernant la campagne médiatique menée contre l’Algérie dans ce pays. Ce silence commence à susciter des interrogations. L’Egypte, qui hausse le ton, a pourtant tout à perdre sur les plans stratégique et économique. Ses groupes sont fortement présents en Algérie, où ils ont remporté de nombreux contrats publics. Les attaques égyptiennes contre l’Algérie illustrent en fait la faiblesse de la diplomatie algérienne et l’absence d’une stratégie de communication et de lobbying capable de défendre l’image de l’Algérie à l’étranger.

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt leader calls for national holiday over “Algerian terrorism”

CAIRO, November 26, 2009 -- Michael Mounir, the head of the Copts of the United States Organization, called for Egyptian groups to declare November 18 each year “a day for the dignity of the Egyptian citizen at home and abroad.” He stressed that as a result of the violence that erupted following the Egypt and Algeria match on that day, Egypt must show its “honor and dignity” to the international world. He said the attacks and “flagrant violations by the Algerians against the Egyptian fans during a football match” and is calling for the formation of an international legal commission to defend Egyptians living abroad. Mounir noted in his speech at the “Alliance of 89 human rights organizations to defend the dignity of Egypt” conference this week the necessity of using foreign relations and the “unity of all the Egyptians at home to respond to the Algerian obscenities.”

Mounir said that this crisis should lead Egyptians to review their relations with the Arab countries. His statements are not likely to ease the tensions between the two nations, which have been enflamed since Algeria beat Egypt 1-0 in a World Cup playoff in Sudan. He continued to say that “unfortunately, Arab brothers are the people who insult Egyptians and the sponsorship system imposed on Egyptians working in the Gulf countries, and the queues of Egyptians in front of embassies, are the greatest witness to that.” He stressed the need to document the events that took place against the Egyptians and their property in Sudan and Algeria and the production of a documentary film in English, French, Italian, German and many other languages to “show the crimes that the Algerian government have stood behind.” Mounir said “Egyptian media must work on addressing the world in addition to holding a press conference that would be attended by all agencies and correspondents of foreign newspapers, in which the Egyptian Information Minister shows the footage of the Algerian fans attacks and the injuries of the Egyptians in Sudan.” He added that “this is the most important step in restoring the dignity of the Egyptians, stressing the need for the intervention of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to the Sudanese side to issue a report confirming that the Algerian public carried out violence and terrorism against the Egyptians on Sudanese territory.”

In a related story, an Algerian woman living in Egypt and married to an Egyptian, filed a lawsuit on Monday before the Court of Mahalla in the al-Gharbiyah governorate, against the Algerian Ambassador in Egypt Abdel Kader Hagar and against the Algerian newspaper Ech-Chorouk, due to what she described as the publication of “false news on purpose” over the death of Algerians in Cairo after the first qualifier match between Egypt and Algeria on November 14, which resulted, according to the woman, “in stirring sedition and hatred between the two nations and her family in Algeria insulting her.” The Algerian woman, Aisha Baridi, said that she has been harmed by the severe tension between the two countries and received sharp attacks and abuse from her family in Algeria and in Egypt from her children because of the “lies by the Algerian Ambassador in Cairo and promoted by the Algerian media.” Baridi has lived in Egypt for almost 20 years and has been married to an Egyptian contractor for 22 years. They have three sons together.

[Al-khiyal]

Angola's group might turn out complicated - FIFA official

Luanda, November 26, 2009 -- Angola’s group “A” in the African Football Cup of Nations (CAN 2010) that includes Mali, Malawi and Algeria, despite seeming an easy one, might become complicated to the national team, due to the balanced level of the opponents. This was said Tuesday in Luanda by FIFA official, José Luís Gomes. Speaking to Angop, José Luís Gomes added that Angola should be careful with one of the members of the group, Algeria, a team that regularly participates in such a competition, and is in high spirits after qualifying for the 2010 World Cup of South Africa. He stated that Mali is also a tough opponent, recalling the 3-0 defeat of February 11 Angola suffered during the first friendly game under Coach Mabi de Almeida. To him, Angola’s only advantage is the fact of playing at home, with the support of its public. A psychologist, Jose Luis Gomes warned that there are no easy games in sports, adding that theoretical advantages do not always translate into victory.

[Al-khiyal]

L'Egypte avait demandé de jouer le match d'appui à huis clos en Afrique ou à Chypre

Jeudi 26 Novembre 2009 -- L’Egypte avait demandé à ce que le match d’appui contre l’Algérie soit joué à Chypre. C’est ce que le quotidien égyptien Al Masry al Youm a rapporté dans son édition du jeudi 26 novembre. La révélation est faite par le porte parole du conseil des ministres Madjdi Radhi. Les Egyptiens ont émis le vœu que le match se joue à huis clos sur un terrain africain ou en Europe. Mais la demande des Pharaons a été refusée par le président de la CAF, Aissa Hayatou, alors que l’Algérie s’est opposée au huis clos. Et c’est le Premier ministre égyptien qui a chargé Hassan Sakr de formuler cette demande. À en croire le même quotidien, le Soudan aurait souhaité, à l’issue d’une audition accordée par Omar El Bachir au ministre des affaires étrangères de l’Egypte Ahmed Abou Elghit, de servir de médiateur entre les deux pays à condition que cesse la campagne médiatique entre l’Algérie et l’Egypte.

[FORTUNATO]

I agree with this lady a lot, she speaks a lot of sense (tho I object to some of the last two paragraphs). It would be good if my husband (& co) were to read this but I know he won't :P

Here is what egyptian news paper wrote:

موقع جريدة الشعب

[Felicity]

its not in English and google translate does not translate arabic well (it doesnt make much sense).