With a 40 minutes goal by Antar Yahia Algeria joined other elite teams as African representatives to the 2010 World Cup after beating Egypt 1-0 in the play off in Sudan Wednesday night.
In their second leg encounter Saturday in Cairo Egypt ran away with a 2-0 win to force the play off after both teams have ended up with same points and goals difference. The play off has now settled the wary tie that almost ended in violence exchange among fans of both teams.
With the result all the five qualifiers and the hosts expected to represent Africa in the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by an African country next year have emerged.
Cameroon would be appearing again at the completion for the sixth time. Since their entry into the world scene in Spain in 1982, the Indomitable Lions have missed just two World Cup rendezvous; in 1986 and in 2006.
Nigeria would be participating for the fourth time since its first appearance in the United States in 1994. The Super Eagles were blocked from going to Germany in 2006 by Angola.
Ivory Coast and Ghana that made their World Cup debut in 2006 will stage a comeback. If South Africa were involved in the World Cup eliminatory, then they could not have been among those qualified.
Having taken part in the first phase with the sole aim of qualifying for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, could not qualify for the last round. As the host country, South Africa will participate in her third World Cup after that of 1998 and 2002. Also, Algeria only have two World Cup participation; They played in 1982 and in 1986.