Al-Ahram Weekly went to print before the big day. Inas Mazhar can only speculate about the outcome of the crunch match between Egypt and Algeria As we go to print, the last African qualifier for the World Cup would have been known. Having to publish this story before the Egypt-Algeria showdown in Sudan, on Wednesday 18 November starting at 7pm, is not the ideal of circumstances. Due to deadline constraints, we can only imagine what might happen. When the final whistle is blown, could it be that Egyptians will be celebrating on the Sudanese pitch? We do not know the answer but we can, of course, write about what has happened. The 2-0 victory over Algeria that has taken this pulsating rivalry to Sudan in which there must emerge a winner produced huge celebrations that broke out across Egypt instantly after substitute striker Emad Miteb rose above the rest to head in a goal few thought was coming. Thousands of Egyptians flew to Sudan soon after that heart-stopper to see, one more time, this historic tug-of- war as each nation hopes to become the sixth African country to appear in next year's World Cup, the first to be held in Africa So much has happened on the way to the last 90 minutes of this fanatic race, many of it not good. There have been attacks on both teams from fans and the countries' respective TV and newspapers. Skirmishes have broken out in Algeria were the locals attacked members of the Egyptian expatriate community, surrounded their compounds, kicked them out of their homes, and damaged their places of work. Had it not been for the Algerian police, it could have been much worse. Algerian fanatism has gone beyond their borders with riots in Sudan and France. Fourteen Algerian fans were arrested in Marseilles for attacking Egyptians and destroying their property. Top political officials have been forced to involve themselves in what they never thought they would be dealing with: a football game. A reported stone-throwing attack on a bus taking Algerian players from Cairo Airport to their hotel which purportedly injured three Algerians, remains a mystery as is being investigated. Apart from that incident, Egyptians have been for the most part staying above the fray or away from it, focussing only on these last decisive moments. Head coach Hassan Shehata has become the most successful coach in Egypt's history and the longest to remain at the helm of the team. In charge since 2004 he has won two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations, in 2006 and 2008, displaying dizzying performances not just in Africa but against giants Brazil and Italy in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa in June. He is now on the verge of putting Egypt back in the World Cup after 20 long years of waiting. Historically, Egypt was the first African country to play official football and to take part in the World Cup, in 1934. But recent years have witnessed the truly golden era of Egyptian football. In South Africa, this was confirmed after Egypt's results against Brazil and Italy. "Africa has been suffering from the Egyptians' dominance in the past four years," one newspaper said, "and it was time the world suffers, too." For team captain Ahmed Hassan, aka the hawk, the team's superstar and maestro Mohamed Abu Treika, the Defending Wall Wa'el Gomaa, the High Dam goalkeeper Essam El-Hadari and the talented Mohamed Barakat, the World Cup is a final dream before they retire. All close to their mid-thirties, this is their last chance to complete their series of success. The junior members of the squad might have more World Cup opportunities but not these veterans. It is now or never. En route to these 90 minutes the Pharaohs made an impressive comeback after the poor 1-1 start against Zambia in Cairo, followed by the biggest upset of the qualifications which turned things upside down for Egypt when they lost 1-3 to the Algerians in Blida. But those two astonishing performances against Brazil and Italy in the summer helped raise morale and boost confidence for the remaining qualifiers. It seemed like a mission impossible: four remaining games in the qualifications, all of which had to be won. And as much as Egyptians had hoped they would, they still had their doubts. Surprisingly, one victory followed another -- 3-0 over Rwanda in Cairo, 1-0 in the return match in Kigali, 1-0 over Zambia in Lusaka and finally the emphatic 2-0 triumph over the Algerians in Cairo International Stadium. The miracle goal from Meteb, scored in the 94th minute, gave Egypt the chance to play another day. After Tunisia's heartbreak exit from the Africa World Cup qualifications and Bahrain from Asia, there will be only one Arab country going to South Africa. It will be the first time in 30 years and the fourth World Cup overall that the Arabs will have just one sole representative in the world's biggest football event, ever since the 1978 edition in Argentina when Tunisia was the only Arab team participating. Will the Pharaohs be the team in 2010? Will they go to South Africa? Have they gone already? The Egypt-Algeria clash in Sudan will be covered in Al-Ahram Weekly 's online edition.
