Madjer to Echorouk : “Egypt has never defeated Algeria on neutral ground”

In an exclusive interview with the newspaper “Echorouk”, the former Algerian football star, Rabah Madjer, has dwelt on Thursday's much-awaited Algeria – Egypt semi-final match in Benguela saying that the Egyptians have never succeeded in defeating their Algerian counterparts on neutral ground.  

• Echorouk : How do you see today’s crucial semi-final confrontation between Algeria and Egypt in Benguela stadium as part of the 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament now hosted b y Angola?
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• Madjer : I should say that this match will be most difficult and grueling for both squads.
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• Winning this crucial game will be of paramount importance for the two rival teams in order to secure a berth in the final with the ultimate aim of clinching the 2010 African trophy.
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• The Egyptians want to wrench the African trophy for the third time in a row and the Greens of Algeria want to snatch it for the second time after that secured in Algiers in 1990.
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• Echorouk : How do you assess the performance made so far by the Egypt squad in this major African competition?
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• Madjer : Well, it’s obviously clear that the Egyptian side have made a good performance since the kick-off of this African football tournament with 4 straight victories in a row.
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• They have in fact the best defense and the best forward lines in this competition. I guess that the credit should be given for the most part to Egyptian coach Hassen Chehata who has selected   both seasoned and budding players and devised an adequate strategy of play for his solid line-up.
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• Echorouk : So, we should understand from what you say that the task of the Algeria squad versus Egypt will be extremely intricate?…
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• Madjer: Absolutely, but I should point out that despite the strength of the Egyptian side, the “Desert Warriors” of Algeria are also a potent squad and have the necessary means to carry the day in Benguela with flying colours as they brilliantly did in the quarter-final match versus the indomitable squad of Ivory Coast who were widely regarded as the prime favourites of this prestigious African tournament.
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