Algeria Qualify For World Cup

Algeria qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a 1-0 win over Egypt yesterday.  A stunning first-half strike by defender Antar Yahia gave Algeria victory in the play-off match.

Yahia's 39th-minute winner came against the run of play when he scored with a volley from an acute angle.

It would be recalled that Egypt, who were trailing Algeria by three points, were handed a lifeline when they beat the latter 2-0 in the last day of the qualifiers.

The result left the fierce North African rivals level on points and goal difference at the top of Group C.

Reigning African champions Egypt could not have wished for a better start, with Amr Zaki giving them a second-minute lead before a sell-out 75,000 crowd in Cairo.

But the Pharaohs failed to build on their early fortune and Algeria missed several good chances to equalise in a clash between two of the fiercest African football rivals.

Meteab replaced Zaki after 65 minutes and, when all seemed lost, he rose highest to head the ball into the far corner of the net past Algerian goalkeeper Lounes Gaouaoui, sending the match into play-offs.

But Egypt could not repeat the magic yesterday in Sudan, as Antar Yahia's goal on 39 minutes separated the two sides at the end of 90 minutes.

The 1-0 result yesterday sends the Algerians to the World Cup since 1986.

From The Sports Desk With Files From BBC