Sudan staged a security clampdown on Wednesday as Algerian fans celebrated victory in a tense match against Egypt which clinched Africa's last place in the 2010 World Cup finals.
   
Thousands of Egyptian and Algerian fans flew in for the play-off in Khartoum which Algeria won 1-0. Police feared a repeat of violence around Saturday's match between the two rivals in Cairo, when 20 Algerian fans were injured and three players suffered cuts after Egyptians stoned their team bus.
   
Fireworks in the streets
Jubilant Algerians waved flags and fireworks, and drove through the streets of the Sudanese capital cheering their first qualification for the World Cup finals in almost quarter of a century.
   
"There is no happiness in the world more than this," said Algerian cook Farid Nimeiri working in the hotel hosting his national team.
   
Fans said it was a tight game and they would now apply for visas to South Africa, which will host the 2010 finals.
   
"Technically speaking it was a very poor game ... because there was a lot of pressure on the players on both sides," said Farouk Eouaou who came from Dubai for the match.
   
At least five fans were stretchered away with minor injuries during celebrations, witnesses said.
   
Westerners and U.N. staff were urged to stay well away from the stadium as 15,000 extra police kept tight control over 35,000 supporters in Khartoum's Al Merreikh stadium.
   
Heavily armed security forces fired tear gas to chase away thousands of Sudanese fans waiting outside, witnesses said.
   
Egyptian fans filed quietly out of the stadium and supporters said they were surprised and impressed with the security operation.
   
Residents feared violence could follow the match but police stationed themselves throughout the capital.
   
Violence in France
In France, celebrations were marred by violence in some areas, with cars set alight and police firing tear gas.
   
Hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, flooded into the streets in  towns and villages across Algeria, celebrating with flags, fireworks and car horns.
   
Even a few police officers lost their cool, sounding their sirens to join in the rapture at the triumph of "les Verts" - Algeria's green-shirted side who beat Egypt 1-0 in the do-or-die playoff in Khartoum.
   

The mood was very different in Cairo, where the normally traffic-packed  streets were deserted during the match. Young Egyptian supporters took to the streets to bang drums and set off  firecrackers after their side's defeat, but their heart was not in it.

Source : Reuters/AFP

Photo: EPA