Algerian colors flew all over the country's capital as the nation
braced for another dramatic and emotional football match against
Egypt - this time in the African Cup of Nations semifinals.
Though "brotherly countries" within the Arab League, Algeria
and Egypt have a history of sour relations linked to football.
After beating Egypt in a playoff match for a spot at the World Cup
in South Africa, the two teams will meet again on Thursday in
Angola for a place in the continental tournament's final.
Violence broke out last year when the two countries played
each other in the group stage of World Cup qualifying, and
Algeria's leading daily newspaper described the upcoming match as
"the duel that we can't lose if we are to definitively save face."
Algerians often voice annoyance at Egypt's dominant position
in the Arab world, which they claim should be theirs. Many also
bitterly recall how little support they felt they received from
Cairo during the decade-long civil war between Algerian authorities
and armed Islamist groups in the 1990s.
The current bout of tension most Algerians feel was initiated
by Egyptians, who stoned and injured Algerian players at the Cairo
airport in early November ahead of their second qualifying match.
However, most Algerian newspapers reported Wednesday that
authorities in both countries had decided to try to tone down the
tension ahead of Thursday's game.
While Algerian authorities flew thousands of supporters for
free to Sudan on military flights for the one-match playoff in
mid-November, the trip to Angola will only be partially backed by
authorities.
National radio Alger Chaine 3 reported the state was funding
about half the fare to Angola, on chartered Air Algerie flights
rather than military planes. The ticket now costs 60,000 Dinars
(about ?600), but Alger Chaine 3 reported that the 1,000 seats
available hadn't sold out because the price vastly exceeds what
most Algerians can afford.
The feud between the two countries has had major economic
consequences. Algeria's main cell phone operator, Djezzy, is owned
by the Egypt-based Orascom group, the property of the Sawiris
family deemed close to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Several of
its stores were looted in downtown Algiers, and haven't reopened
since.
Many hardline Algerian supporters have also canceled their
contract with the phone operator, switching to other firms deemed
more "patriotic," including Nedjma, which has sprawled posters
stating it sponsors the national team all over town.
Meanwhile, the national APS news agency reported that
Algerian team T-shirts had sold out in France
