2014 World Cup: Algeria 1-0 Rwanda “Greens of Algeria stride with ease to play-offs”

Algeria cemented their spot atop of group H with a 1-0 win over Rwanda in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying match at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Sunday evening.

The win for the Desert Foxes of Algeria take them a step closer to securing their place in the next qualifying round and will be assured a passage to the next round if Mali fail to beat Benin on Sunday in Bamako.

Both sides failed to find the back of the net in the first half of the Kigali fixture.

Midfielder Saphir Taider opened the scoring for Algeria seven minutes after the break. The Bologna midfielder scrambled the ball over the line to put the home side on the back foot.

The Wasps of Rwanda were unable to get the equaliser and as a result fell to their third loss of the world cup qualifying campaign.

Algeria host Mali in their final and decisive match of the 2014 World cup qualifying campaign while Rwanda travel to Benin.

These two last qualifiers are slated for next September.

Teams:

Rwanda: Ndori; Twagizimana, Sibomana, Kagere, Nirisarike, Buteera (Ndahinduka 74’), Karekezi, Iranzi (Sibomana 46’), Usengimana, Niamuhanaga (Mugabo 54’), Rusheshangoga.

Algeria: Mbolhi; Bougherra, Belkalem, Mesbah, Feghouli (Lacen 85’), Brahimi (Kadir 71’), Medjani, Slimani (Djebbour 82’), Guedioura, Taider, Mostefa-Sbaa.

Guinea’s Yakhouba Keita was the designated referee for this Group H clash.

“Algeria set to pile crushing pressure on Mali”

Algeria now are set to pile more pressure on Group H rivals Mali after beating Rwanda one-nil at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali in a 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier.

The Algerian players will be able to pull five points clear at the top of the standings if they defeat their hosts, meaning Mali’s Eagles will then be under immense pressure to defeat Benin in Bamako and send the fight for a place in the next round to the final set of group matches in September.

Algeria came into this weekend’s match in a buoyant mood, having come from behind to defeat Benin 3-1 this past Sunday in Porto Novo.

That result, combined with Mali’s 1-1 draw away to Rwanda, is what sees the ‘Desert Foxes’ strongly placed in the group, and coach Vahid Halihodzic was more than satisfied with his side’s performance.

Guinea’s Yakhouba Keita was the designated referee for this Group H clash.

The Kigali qualifier was attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and other officials including the Algerian Ambassador posted in Kigali and a small number of Algerian fans.

Post-match statements:

Saphir Taider:

“Kigali’s football ground was not fit for fine play”

“I’m utterly pleased to have been able to score the winning goal which came following a collective effort from all the players of the Algerian national squad.

The Kigali pitch was not fit for easy and beautiful footballing play but we made do with it by dominating ball possession throughout the fixture.

We’ll brace now for the last qualifier versus Mali next September in the hope sealing our berth in the play-offs on the road to the 2014 world cup in Brazil, In Challah”.

Madjid Bouguerra:

“We’re a step closer to the 2014 World Cup”.

“By clinching 6 points after two consecutive away victories in Benin and in Rwanda, we have achieved our goal and have bolstered as a result our top slot in the standings well ahead of Mali. Now, we’ll gear in a serene frame of mind for the last qualifier in Algeria against Mali with a decisive win hopefully in order to clear the way for a much-awaited qualification for the World Cup in Brazil”.

Algerian FAF chairman Mohamed Raouraoua:

“We’re steadily on the way to the play-offs”

“We’re all very pleased with this second victory in a row in away matches and we’re getting closer and closer to the play-offs and ultimately to snatching our qualifying ticket for the 2014 world cup tournament in Brazil. If we achieve this feat, and we’re optimistic about this set objective, it will be Algeria’s fourth qualification for the world cup finals in the country’s history.

 We’ll make everything available for the players and the technical staff to help them beef up their winning spirit in order to fulfill the world cup qualification dream of all the Algerian people”.

Algeria team coach: Vahid Halihodvic:

“I congratulate the players after the well-deserved victory,” Halihodzic said after the Kigali match.

“I’ve always said that Algeria is looking for a victory reference. Now it’s done. We must not forget that it is a long time since Algeria has won away from home twice in a row with such a good style and mastery of play.

“Now, with the meritorious win secured in Kigali we can achieve another victory at home versus Mali to move to the play-offs. It is sure that there is now more hope to qualify Algeria for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”

Focus on Algerian football:”Hopes and Prospects”

That much could be seen when Algeria returned home winless after the 2010 World Cup. One thing they could take great heart from was the way they qualified for that tournament, ahead of Egypt. The Arab spring had something to do with the outcome of that draw, but it should not be forgotten that it affected Algeria too and their progression was not simply a fluke as they had been previous and even historically relevant representatives of the continent on the global stage. 

Of the three World Cups Algeria participated in, their 1982 showing is the most memorable. They became the first African team to beat European opposition when they defeated West Germany 2-1. Victory over Chile in Algeria’s last group stage match left them on the brink of second round but they needed a favour from West Germany, who were playing the next day. 

For Algeria to go through, West Germany had to beat Austria by a margin of three goals or more. Anything less than that, a draw or an Austrian win would see West Germany and Austria progress and Algeria knocked out. In what is widely considered a conspiracy, West Germany scored just after the first 10 minutes of play and then parked the bus. The two teams were content to kick the ball around without purpose until the full time whistle which ended Algeria’s challenge in the competition. 

Fans on all sides were disgusted and Algeria sent an official complaint to the sport’s governing body but the result stood. It did, however, prompt a change to the system. FIFA decided that after the incident, all future final group stage matches would kick off at the same time to prevent a recurrence of that situation. 

The mid 1980s are what Algeria will consider their golden years. Players such as Rabah Madjer, Djamel Menad, Lakhdar Belloumi, Djamel Amani and others helped them win the 1990 African Nations’ Cup, but they had to wait another two decades before they competed on the world stage again. 

Now, Algeria find themselves in a very good position to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. They are top of their group on 12 points, with Mali well behind in second spot. Should they make it to Brazil, Algeria will want a stronger showing than any of their previous efforts, to prove that in their coveted corner of North Africa football is on the steady rise too.