ALGERIA: Thousands welcome Algerian soccer team home after qualifying for 2010 World Cup finals
Record ID:
573634
ALGERIA: Thousands welcome Algerian soccer team home after qualifying for 2010 World Cup finals
- Title: ALGERIA: Thousands welcome Algerian soccer team home after qualifying for 2010 World Cup finals
- Date: 21st November 2009
- Summary: ALGIERS, ALGERIA (NOVEMBER19, 2009) (REUTERS) PLANE CARRYING ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM ON TARMAC MEMBERS OF THE ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM WAVING AT TOP OF AIRPLANE STEPS ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM COACH, RABAH SAADANE WALKING VARIOUS OF ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AND WALKING DOWN RED CARPET ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM STANDING IN OPEN TOP BUS VARIOUS OF THE BUS DRIVING THROUGH CROWDS OF SUPPORTERS SUPPORTERS . SECURITY SERVICES STANDING IN FRONT OF SUPPORTERS HELICOPTER IN SKY BUS CARRYING TEAM DRIVING THROUGH STREETS STREET FILLED WITH PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS AND CHEERING BUS CARRYING ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM PEOPLE WAVING FLAGS AND CHEERING FROM BALCONIES ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA WALKING TOWARDS ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM (SOUNDBITE) (FRENCH), ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM DEFENDER, MADJID BOUGUERRA SAYS: "We won thanks to the Algerian supporters. Thanks to God. Thanks to the president and thanks to the supporters. Long live Algeria." BOUTEFLIKA POSING WITH ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM GOAL KEEPER, FAOUZI CHAOUCHI SAYS: "We had the revenge of the Algerian peoples who were in Egypt. We had our revenge for the bloodshed. I dedicate this victory to the Algerian people. " BOUTEFLIKA STANDING WITH MEMBERS OF THE ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM
- Embargoed: 6th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Algeria
- Country: Algeria
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA7GRDVKEDTVIMA2PUQF0XURR4Y
- Story Text: Thousands gathered to welcome the Algerian soccer team home on Thursday (November 19) after their win in Khartoum securing them a place in the World Cup finals.
Giving them a heroes welcome, people lined the streets and surrounded the open top bus carrying the team, who waved to their cheering supporters.
Algerians' outpouring of joy at qualifying for the World Cup finals late on Wednesday was more than about football: for them the victory symbolises their country's emergence from almost two decades of conflict.
The last time Algeria reached the World Cup finals was in 1986, shortly before a wave of social unrest that ultimately led to fighting between Islamist rebels and government forces in which thousands of people were killed.
Nearly a quarter of a century later, the violence -- known in Algeria as "the black years" -- has declined, with now only occasional attacks by a rump of militants operating as the North African wing of al Qaeda.
There are practical ways in which Algeria's relative stability has helped its performance on the football field.
During the "black years", many of Algeria's matches had to be played in Annaba, about 500 km (300 miles) east of Algiers, because the capital was considered too dangerous.
Home games are now played near the capital and will soon return to a refurbished national stadium in Algiers.
Improved security may have influenced several players in the side with dual nationality to turn down the option of playing for France and choose Algeria instead.
Algerian soccer team defender, Madjid Bouguerra thanked all who supported them.
"We won thanks to the Algerian supporters. Thanks to God. Thanks to the president and thanks to the supporters. Long live Algeria," he said.
Algeria booked their place after beating arch rivals Egypt 1-0 in neutral Sudan to win a tense sudden-death playoff, defender Antar Yahia scoring five minutes before halftime with a stunning half-volley The win has been marred by accusations of post-match thuggery with Cairo recalling its envoy to Algiers and Egyptians taking to the streets and burning the Algerian flag in the Egyptian capital late on Thursday.
The actions are the latest in a tit-for-tat spat between the North African countries about minor violence surrounding World Cup qualifying matches played on Saturday in Egypt, and on Wednesday in Sudan.
Goal Keeper, Faouzi Chaouchi said dedicated his victory to the Algerian people.
"We had the revenge of the Algerian peoples who were in Egypt. We had our revenge for the bloodshed. I dedicate this victory to the Algerian people," he said.
Egypt's state-run EGYNews website said Cairo was recalling its ambassador for consultations over violence against Egyptians after Wednesday's match that Egypt has blamed on Algerian fans.
About 2,000 protestors, some burning Algerian flags, gathered near Algeria's embassy in Cairo late on Thursday to protest what they said was attacks on their compatriots and called for the Algerian envoy to leave, witnesses said.
World Cup qualification is likely to give a breathing space to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who is facing social unrest over unemployment, high food prices and cramped housing conditions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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