BENGUELA: Playing defending champions Egypt Thursday in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final here is a dream come true for Algeria hero Hameur Bouazza.
The 24-year-old wide midfielder from English second-tier club Blackpool headed the extra-time winner that toppled title favorites Ivory Coast last Sunday and he has been itching for another shot at the ‘Pharaohs’.
Although the ‘Desert Foxes’ defeated Egypt at home and in a Sudan play-off to snatch an unexpected place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, they are still battling to win over domestic media skeptics.
“It is great playing Egypt again as it offers us a chance to prove we beat them fairly and not through luck, Bouazza said as the countdown began to the 1930GMT clash of bitter regional rivals at the 35,000-seat Ombaka Stadium.
“We won through hard work and because we have a lot of talented players, he said, referring to the 1-0 play-off victory courtesy of a late first-half goal from defender Antar Yahia.
The three World Cup clashes between the countries were enveloped in controversy with Egypt claiming their food was poisoned in Blida while the Algerian bus was stoned en route to its Cairo hotel from the airport.
Hundreds of rival supporters were reportedly injured in Khartoum, Egyptian citizens and property was attacked in Algiers, and a war of words erupted between high-level government officials.
Bouazza preferred to concentrate on football, stressing that while the ‘Foxes’ may lack individual stars like 170-cap Egypt midfielder and skipper Ahmed Hassan, they possess abundant character and team spirit.
That was clear in the oil-rich Cabinda enclave against the Ivorians as they recovered from conceding an 89th-minute goal to level two minutes into stoppage time via the head of Glasgow Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra.
And when a long cross from the left drifted to the far post two minutes into extra time, unmarked Bouazza calmly nodded the ball into the corner of the net and closed the scoring in a Nations Cup epic.
“This team has got real character and team spirit is probably our greatest strength. Matches are won by happy players and that is the case with us, he said, reiterating pre-tournament comments.
Bouazza senses Algeria, back in the last four for the first time since they hosted and won the 1990 tournament for their sole Africa title, can confound the critics further, defeat Egypt and win the January 31 Luanda climax.
“I am convinced we can do something special in Angola. The coach encourages us all the time and that is what we need, he said, heaping praise on five-time Algeria boss Rabah Saadane.
The ‘Foxes’ had to recover from a 3-0 drubbing by minnows Malawi to reach the knockout phase via a 1-0 win over Mali and a dour 0-0 draw against Angola amid media allegations the result was ‘fixed’ so both teams would advance.
