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Tensions follow soccer rivals

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Correspondent Aya Batrawy reports from Cairo on the bitter rivalry between soccer clubs Egypt and Algeria. Their last match caused riots in both countries. Now they’re set to meet tomorrow in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

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MARCO WERMAN: I’m Marco Werman.  This is The World.  Soccer rivals Egypt and Algeria are at it again.  The two national teams meet tomorrow in Angola for a semi-final match at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.  The last time they met it was on neutral ground in Sudan.  Algeria dealt Egypt a painful loss, knocking the Egyptians out of the World Cup.  But the tensions go well beyond the pitch as Aya Batrawy reports from Cairo.

AYA BATRAWY: When Algeria beat Egypt in November, Egyptian fans said they were attacked leaving the stadium in Sudan.  Back in Cairo, thousands of angry young men rioted in front of the Algerian Embassy.  Twenty-seven year old Cairo taxi driver Ahmed Abdel Ghani was one of those who went to the Embassy.

MALE VOICE 1:  [through interpreter] I went and pulled out the Egyptian flag, but Police said I can’t do that.  They said I was inciting people.

AYA BATRAWY: This time around, the Egyptian government has taken pains to try to prevent any post-game violence.  And while Ahmed says many here are praying nothing happens after the match, they’re prepared to defend their nation’s pride.  Ahmed took me to a street in his slum neighborhood.  It’s called Algeria Street.  He says after Egypt lost to Algeria in November, residents here petitioned the government to change the name.  Dalia Safwat, a journalism student and soccer fan says that’s understandable.  Soccer is what people here care about.

DALIA SAFWAT:  It’s the only thing that people enjoy which is soccer, football, winning a match.  That’s what they have.  People are suffering from economic problems and poverty and football is one of the outlet that they enjoy.

AYA BATRAWY: Egypt has a lot riding on tomorrow’s game.  It’s won the last two African Cup of Nations.  One Egyptian player says for both teams, it’s a matter of life and death.  For The World, I’m Aya Batrawy in Cairo.

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