“The Pharaohs of Egypt crumble versus triumphant Algeria in breath-taking World Cup qualifier”

A crushing 3-1 defeat to Algeria on Sunday night in Blida stadium leaves Egypt far away from next year's World Cup in South Africa. Instead, the Algerians take the lead in Group 3. 

• After a 1-1 draw with Zambia in Cairo, pressure was on Egypt to do much better in Algeria. Things didn’t go according to plan though, at least for the away side which crumbled in the face of the strong determination and the fighting spirit of the Algerian Fennecs.
• Striker Karim Matmour put Algeria ahead on the hour mark and Abdelkader Ghezzal made it 2-0 a few minutes later. When Rafik Djebbour added a third in minute 77, Algeria knew that the three points were in the pocket and that it was as good as settled.
• Mohamed Abou Treka got one back late on in the 87th minute but it simply wasn’t enough for the Egyptians who were staggered and subdued by the resolute and most enterprising Algerian players.
• Algeria and Zambia share the lead in this group with four points each but Algeria enjoys a better goal-average, and Rwanda and Egypt are stuck with only one point.
• This resounding victory was celebrated with flying colours by millions of people across Algeria and elsewhere in the world notably in France among the large Algerian community settled there.
•  Hundreds of thousands of Algerians took to the streets of towns and cities throughout the country to voice all night long their joy and their exhilaration at the Greens’ most praiseworthy performance versus their all-time Egyptian rivals.
• Congratulations to the “Greens” and many happy returns !!!