Algeria’s progress in the World Cup is being followed keenly in the Arab and Muslim world. Today’s match against the USA will be followed by millions in the Maghreb and the Middle East.
Adai Ezedi, the brother of Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W Bush has exhorted the Fennecs “to be merciless with the US.” Maybe he meant this time to be on target scoring goals.
The Fennecs are determined to enter the second round which was cruelly denied to them in 1982 by Germany and Austria.
Algerian football federation, Mohamed Raouraoua met with the team and asked them to up hold the honour of Algeria, the Arab, and Muslim world by adhering to principles of good sportsmanship and fair play but doing their best to win to record a historic passage into the next round.
That would not be a problem but Raouraoua left out that Algeria also represents Africa, hosting their first ever World Cup. These are not mere semantics but provide prima facie proof that countries like Algeria and Egypt do not consider themselves “African”. It is more stark considering African representation might end today if Algeria and Ghana should lose.