The “Greens” of Algeria qualify for 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil

Algeria sealed the fifth and final African zone World Cup qualifying berth on Tuesday, edging their play-off with Burkina Faso on away goals.

The Greens of Algeria carried the day with 1 goal to nil versus the national Burkinabe squad in Blida stadium on Tuesday evening (November 19^th) and missed several other chances to score more goals especially in the second half of this decisive second-leg play-off fixture.

Last month, Algeria lost the first leg play-off 3-2 in Ouagadougou and therefore needed just a goal to qualify for their fourth World Cup finals having featured at the 1982, 1986 and 2010 competitions.

Algeria got the salutary goal they needed in the 49th minute through skipper Madjid Bougherra off a goal mouth scramble caused by a free-kick.

The Stallions of Burkina Faso, beaten finalists at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, were thus denied the chance by a more determined Algeria line-up to reach a first-ever World Cup.

The Blida stadium was packed to capacity as early as six hours before the match was due to kickoff despite the cold and rainy conditions.

It was an even exchange between the two teams at the start of this world cup playoff match staged inside a crammed Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida.

The “Greens” of Algeria were first to settle down and they continued to attack Burkina Faso, whose solid and packed defence kept them out.

The Algeria goalkeeper Mohamed Zemmamouche kept out a desperate defensive clearance that was headed for goal in the 11th minute.

The first big chance fell to Algeria in the 21st minute, when Algerian striker Islam Slimani was allowed a free header off a cross from the left right inside the box, but he failed to direct it on target.

Algeria captain Bougherra was booked in the 44th minute for a double-footed tackle on his Burkina Faso counterpart Charles Kabore.

In first half stoppage time, Burkina Faso goalkeeper Daouda Diakite smothered a low shot by center-forward El Arbi Soudani.

In the 57th minute, Islam Slimani let fly from inside the box but his powerful snap shot missed its mark even with the Burkina goalkeeper beaten.

Chances were few and far between in this physical contest, which was marred by countless stoppages.

With the ticket to Brazil 2014 slipping away from them, Burkina Faso’s Belgian coach Paul Put desperately threw in forwards Aristide Bance and Alain Traore in the closing minutes but to no avail.

In stoppage time, Burkina Faso saw a last-ditch effort crash against the post, but with no positive result as the Algerian defensive line was always well positioned.

With Algeria’s meritorious qualification, it is the same line-up of teams who represented Africa at 2010 in South Africa, namely Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Algeria’s much-awaited qualification for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil has triggered a gigantic wave of joy and exhilaration across the national territory with thousands of fans taking to the streets in every town and city to vent their utmost merriment in large popular gatherings to last throughout the night and most probably until the early hours of the morning.