The Africas No. 99
politically Investing in football can bring large or expensive .... Algiers and Cairo, in a context of passion, were betting big on the meeting between their football teams. At the end of the match, the loser, Egypt, has sparked a third half-time on the front of the media and diplomacy.
By Djaafer Said, Algiers
Between Cairo and Algiers, the battle was that the media before the stoning of buses Algerian football team, on his arrival in Cairo turns into arm iron policy. A telephone interview between Presidents Hosni Mubarak and Bouteflika had led him to keep the match in Cairo, against the advice of staff. By losing only two to zero in very specific conditions, the Algerian team has preserved its chances of qualification. And saved the day with President Bouteflika, who, upon disposal, have been blamed for having naively believed in the verbal assurances of its Egyptian counterpart.
The political cost for Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the regime in general, could be high because of the general indignation of Algerians plumb in front of the Egyptians, who denied the attack on the team bus and football players accused Algeria of having staged. Young Algerians, who have not accepted that it adds insult to injury, violently attacked the Egyptian interests, those of the mobile operator Djezzy and Egyptair. Bouteflika's decision to organize, with unusual speed in relation to the complexities of the system, an air bridge between Algiers and Khartoum, would compensate for his credulity vis-à-vis the Egyptian president.
Side Egypt, Gamal Mubarak, son of the president and his heir apparent, was ostensibly invested behind his national team. The playoff would be in Khartoum, with a victory a foregone conclusion, a key moment in his march to the coronation as a future "Rats" of the country. The play-off in Khartoum was so saturated with politics.
Double Down
The absolute identification of the youths of both countries - potential danger for both plans - at their football teams made this saturation explosive. In Khartoum, two teams fought a ticket for Africa South, but between the lines, two schemes, the similarities are not accidental, played a strange game of double or quits.
Rarely a football match was due to the investment behind the passion of youth teams, also politically explosive. Neither the media nor the politicians of both countries have managed to admit to the streets, Algerian and Egyptian flick that defeat was a possibility. Khartoum had become a game total: between players, between ... between opinions and plans. The winner, Algeria in this case takes all, loser, Egypt, ... finds himself in hell. And had to manage a return boomerang disappointment, especially bitter that teaching elementary outcomes of a football match had been avoided ... The investment was high, the loss could be severe ...
Formidable media operation
Cairo then decided to organize a great photo op around the alleged "massacres" perpetrated by the Khartoum Algerian fans. The Egyptian television were broadcasting dramatic phone calls of Egyptian citizens from the Sudanese capital, describing scenes of Apocalypse ... In excess, which served ultimately to create a diversion, to add a third to half the match total. In reality, nothing happened in Khartoum, but a single minor incident. The Sudanese government, which mobilized more than fifteen thousand police to ensure the safety of an unexpected match, did not appreciate the communication campaign Cairo. The Egyptian ambassador was summoned to hear the discontent serve Sudan. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the ambassador of Egypt to inform the rejection by Sudan of information disseminated by the Egyptian media about the events after the match, "Khartoum has announced in a statement. "Rather than highlighting everything that Sudan has done for this game, host, hosting nearly 25,000 people and security, the Egyptian media have disseminated false information," said the spokesman Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khalid Osman Muawiya.
"The Maghreb is finally, I've seen and heard"
The Egyptians have tried to appease the Sudanese, but with Algeria, is climbing: a reminder of the Egyptian ambassador in Algiers, violent demonstration outside the embassy in Cairo, to return the call Algerian Ambassador ... The eldest son of Egyptian President Mubarak Alaa, has contributed to the Algerians accused of engaging in "acts of terrorism ... before, during and after the game", calling the Algerian supporters of "mercenaries". Saturday, before the Egyptian Parliament, and without naming Algeria, President Hosni Mubarak said: "Egypt will not show leniency toward those who violate the dignity of its citizens. "The Algerians are frightened by the excesses of attacks and insults on Egyptian television.
far can lead to a diplomatic crisis between Algeria and Egypt? The severance of diplomatic relations is not yet considered ... The Arab League calls for restraint. The Algerian government naturally less constrained, chose not to overbid. But traces of this match will total durable. In Cairo, where the anti-Algerian remains strong, intellectuals call for an end to pan-Arabism "which gives Egypt without receiving in return for hatred." In Algeria, many noted that Gasfa Casablanca to Tunisia, the Algerian team victory was celebrated with much joy to Algiers ... "The Maghreb is finally, I've seen and heard" wrote Casablanca, an old activist of Algerian friends, telling the clamor that has arisen in Morocco and Algeria after the goal horn concerts after the match.
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