FOOTBALL:ALGERIA IN WORLD CUP.20 YRS OF FEAR,NOW CELEBRATING

 

FOOTBALL:ALGERIA IN WORLD CUP.20 YRS OF FEAR,NOW CELEBRATING

 

(ANSAmed) - ALGIERS - Fireworks, 'ululululu' (Arab women's cry of joy) and even ship sirens rung out across yesterday evening in Algiers, where - immediately after the final whistle of referee Eddy Maillet of the Seychelles - a resounding boom marked the beginning of celebrations for the win against Egypt (1-0) in Khartoum, the qualifying match giving Algeria the right to compete in the 2010 World Cup South Africa. It was a much-desired victory, which after 24 years has brought the North African country to the World Cup for the third time in its history. ''A well-deserved match,'' Amina told ANSA, ''which I hope can restore some joy to the young generation, after 20 years of suffering and pain. Twenty years of war and fear.'' ''I am happy especially for them, and I hope this marks the beginning of the true rebirth of Algeria,'' said the 58-year-old woman, mother of three children - including one who made his way to Sudan to watch the match. Algeria hadn't qualified for the most important football competition in the world since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. A few years later, the fundamentalists of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) began to dictate laws, and in 1992, with the annulment of the elections in which the FIS won a landslide victory, violent actions began to be taken by Islamist armed groups: terrorism, and civil war. Art, culture and sport almost entirely disappeared.

 

Since yesterday evening the entire country has been dreaming - even Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who thanked the players in an official statement for having given Algerians ''immense joy and immense pride'', by pulling off ''a feat which until this very moment had been seen as impossible''. Millions of young and old alike, including many women, celebrated in the streets of all the cities of Algeria, from the capital to the oases of the farthest reaches of the Sahara, with the celebrations broadcast live on state-run TV, ENTV. And many, between one slogan and the next, just could not hold back their tears. ''After what the Egyptians did to us they got what they deserved. It is a question of pride. We're on our way to the World Cup!'', said one young fan. Security forces, deployed in riot gear across many zones of Algeria, where in the case of a defeat public disturbance had been feared, helmets were lowered.

 

The tension building up after Saturday's defeat in Cairo disappeared, as did the violence of the last few days against Egyptian companies. ''One, two, three, vive l'Algerie!''. Now, and for many days to come, the time has come to celebrate.(ANSAmed).