Khartoum ready to host playoff between Egypt and Algeria

KHARTOUM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The moment the South African referee has blown his whistle ending the game where Egypt beat Algeria 2-0 Saturday, the Sudanese capital of Khartoum has started early preparations to host the qualifying playoff match between the Egyptian and Algerian teams.

The two rivals finished level on points and goal difference in Group C after Egypt's win in Cairo.

They will fight for the fifth and final spot at the 2010 World Cup finals in the play-off on Nov. 18 in Khartoum.

The Sudanese street seemed busy with the decisive match between Egypt and Algieria, to be hosted by el Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman, where the Sudanese fans could hardly hide their joy for hosting this event which receives a great Arab, African and international concern.

The Sudan Football Association said it formed an operation room to prepare for the match.

"Preparations are going on satisfactorily. We have set up a special operations room to make the organization of this important match a success", said Financial Secretary of the Sudan Football Association, Salah Haj Saeed in a press statement to Xinhua.

"This evening we will receive the Algerian team and then the Egyptian team. All security and administrative procedures regarding the match are in place," the statement said.

The Sudan football association official further stressed neutrality of the Sudanese authorities, saying "Both Egypt and Algeria are sister countries to Sudan and therefore we will be fully neutral. We have observed neutrality even in the distribution of tickets to the two teams' fans and their seating on the stadium which will host the match".

He added that the officials of the Algerian team have notified the Sudanese authorities that about four thousand Algerian fans would arrive in Khartoum to support their team and that Egypt has informed the Sudanese authorities that around 15 Egyptian planes, carrying thousands of Egyptian fans, would arrive in Khartoum airport.

He said the referees and the technical observer would arrive in Khartoum Monday, explaining that three of the referees are from Seychelles and the fourth from Cameroon.

He noted that FIFA has not yet named the administrative observer for the match and expected him to be from Sudan.

Saeed, meanwhile, said selection of Khartoum to host this match placed a great burden on the shoulder of the Sudan football association, saying "this is an important match but we affirm our ability to host the event in a way that would satisfy the Arabs and Africans".

He further stressed readiness of the Sudanese authorities to contain any events associated with the match and affirmed that the association would work to remove the tension accompanied Cairo game and bring matters between the brothers back to normal.

Regarding the reaction of the Sudanese fans toward this event, the Sudanese sport commentator, Mohamed Fadlalla, told Xinhua that "the Sudanese fans adore football and therefore they were happy for Egypt's victory over Algeria Saturday because that victory confirmed the playoff match between the two teams in Khartoum. It is a historical opportunity for the Sudanese fans to be part of this important event".