CAIRO: Newspapers on Sunday feted Egypt s home team and their supporters after the Pharoahs beat Algeria s Desert Foxes in a crucial World Cup qualifier that avoided the violence that preceded the game.
We achieved victory after having lost hope, state-run daily Al-Gomhuria paper said in a front-page headline about the last-minute goal that earned Egypt a 2-0 victory and sparked wild celebrations on the streets of Cairo.
The result left the North African rivals level on points and goal difference at the top of Group C – meaning they will meet again on Wednesday in Sudan to decide which country goes through to the finals in South Africa.
Saturday s tense game was marred by a violent attack the previous day on the bus carrying the Algerian team from the airport to their Cairo hotel.
Three players – Khaled Lemmouchia, Rafik Halliche and Rafik Saifi – were injured when stones were hurled at the bus, FIFA representative Walter Gagg said, adding that the injuries were not superficial.
Trouble flared again after the game when a group of Egyptian fans stoned buses ferrying Algerian fans away from the stadium, an AFP journalist said.
Three Algerians were lightly injured in the attack, security forces said.
But Cairo newspapers ignored the violence and paid tribute to the players and their fans instead, hailing the latter as the real stars of the show.
The fans were the stars of the game, trumpeted flagship government newspaper Al-Ahram.
Thanks to the fans, the independent Al-Masri al-Yom said in a banner headline. -AFP
