Alaa Abdel-Ghani and Dina Ezzat report on yet another Egyptian-Algerian donnybrook intentionally being played down You might call it the luck of the draw. More probably, though, it is the futility of escaping destiny. Whatever way one chooses to describe the situation, today, Thursday 28 January, Egypt and Algeria are to meet once again. And once again, we must hold our breath. When last they met, on 18 November, Algeria edged Egypt for a place in the 2010 World Cup, after which marauding Algerian youths, some reportedly armed with knives, ran amok on the streets of host city Khartoum, manhandling several Egyptian fans along the way. The rampage, plus the result, plus the acrimonious buildup to the game ripped the two nations apart. Over two months later, the prize this time is a trip to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations being held in Angola. "God I cannot believe that we are going through this again. I hope it will not turn into another nightmare," said Zoubida, an Algerian resident of Cairo. Sherine, a firm Egyptian soccer fan said that she "really, really hopes" that Egypt would win. "It's a matter of pride," she said. Although Sherine was "infuriated" by what she qualified as "unacceptable attacks by Algerian fans on Egyptian counterparts in the wake of the Sudan play-off, she insisted she had "no wish whatsoever to see another round of Egyptian-Algerian tension" over the game. Zoubida and Sherine both said they hoped the game "would pass peacefully" and "whoever wins wins". The Egyptian is actually of mixed sentiment. Some want revenge; it is a fortuitous opportunity, they insist, one not to be missed. The argument is that Egypt, with a record seven African titles compared to Algeria's sole crown, most always does better in the ACN than Algeria. But others do not want to play Algeria again for fear of losing once more. Egyptian pride took a huge wallop in Sudan and few here want to see the sequel. The hesitants might also point to the historical head-to-head advantage of Algeria. In 19 games with Egypt, Algeria has won 10, lost four and tied five. One thing is clear: This time round the heat has been turned down. There is an obvious, concerted effort, apparently being made by the hierarchies of both sides, to turn down the press and TV vitriol and play down the encounter. The foreign ministers of Egypt and Algeria on Tuesday both called for a friendly game. Egyptian Minister of Information Anas El-Fiqi told reporters ahead of tonight's game that whoever wins will be representing the Arab world in the final of the African cup. Meanwhile, the Arab League called for wisdom and friendliness to prevail. Hesham Youssef, chief of the Cabinet of the Arab League secretary-general, appealed to both sides not to make a football game more than it is. He told reporters that tonight's game could be an opportunity for the players and fans of both Egypt and Algeria to prove that the furore from last autumn had passed. Egyptian and Algerian officials told Al-Ahram Weekly that clear instructions were issued at considerably high levels for the state-run media to avoid the inflammatory language that brought things to a head in November. Editors in some independent papers and TV news channels in Egypt told the Weekly they received strong appeals from the government to avoid provocative statements. Today, both governments seem sufficiently firm on steering clear of harms way. The publics of the two countries appear to have come to the collective conclusion that a repetition of the incredible spitefulness will simply not do, and that there was no reason for all the venom in the first place. The game of football is just a game, no matter what's to be won. To make soccer appear more than what it actually is blows the ball's bladder way out of its leather. Helping ease the tension is the fact that there has not been much time for tension to build. Only so much heat can be generated in the four days between the quarter-finals and semis in this ACN whereas more than a month stood in between the time it was known Egypt and Algeria would clash in the ultimate World Cup qualifier. The run-up then was long and hot. Following the Sudan game, Egyptian interests and some nationals in Algeria were subject to attacks by angry soccer fans in Algeria. The Algerian Embassy in Zamalek was also targeted by stone-throwing angry Egyptian soccer fans who called on the Egyptian government to cut off ties with Algeria. Under pressure from public opinion Egypt recalled its ambassador to Algeria Abdel-Aziz Seif El-Nasr for consultations. Seif El-Nasr has as yet not returned. Privately, Egyptian and Algerian diplomats concede things could get out of hand at the end of tonight's game despite the "words of wisdom" on both sides. The Algerian government says it has plans to airlift hundreds of its fans to Angola for tonight's game, much as it did in Sudan. A few hundred Egyptian supporters are going. Angolan security was lax when separatist militants killed three Togo team members even before the tournament began. Both Cairo and Algiers have strongly urged the Angolan authorities to be on the ball today in Benguela. Both capitals have decided to refrain from delegating high-level envoys to support their respective national teams. This will be Egypt's fourth meeting with Algeria in the past seven months. They know each other by heart. Today, there will be no surprises -- except that the game might actually be played in the spirit of sportsmanship. (see p.16)
