Egyptian residents in Algeria fear for their safety ahead of Sunday's World Cup qualifier between the North African rivals, an Algerian report said on Friday. Al-Khabar newspaper quoted several Egyptians as saying they were worried they might be harmed if the Pharaohs won the anticipated tie in Blida. "I don't care who will win, I just care about the safety of my family," Ibrahim Abdul-Ghani, an Egyptian worker who has been living in Algeria since 2004, said. "We will stay at home on Sunday to avoid any problems." Fierce rivals Egypt and Algeria have one point each after being held to draws by Zambia and Rwanda respectively in the first round of matches in Group C. Their matches are always played in tense atmospheres. Their last World Cup qualifiers' meeting in 2001 in Algerian city Annaba was marred by crowd troubles.
"I just care about the safety of my family." The game was halted for three times after fans threw stones onto the pitch to injure then Egypt assistant coach Alaa Nabil. Reports said there will be strict security measures during Sunday's game, including banning fireworks. Serious Tone Egyptian Saied Al-Mahgari, who works for a petroleum company in Algeria, will not be able to buy his needs from his favorite store if his country wins. "The storekeeper advised me not to come to the shop if Egypt win," he said. "He insisted he won't sell anything to me. What surprised me the most is that he spoke with a serious tone, he wasn't joking."
