Algeria qualify for 2010 World Cup
Published:Wednesday | November 18, 2009 | 5:23 PM
Algeria qualified for the 2010 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Egypt today.
A stunning first-half strike by defender Antar Yahya gave Algeria victory in the playoff match.
Yahya\'s 39th minute winner came against the run of play when he took advantage of a lapse in concentration by Egypt\'s defenders to hit a perfect volley in off the underside of the crossbar with his right foot from an acute angle.
The win means Algeria will make their first appearance at a World Cup since 1986.
Algeria become the fifth African nation to reach the finals, alongside Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
South Africa qualified as the host nation.
Over in Ukraine, Greece advanced to their first World Cup in 16 years on, beating Ukraine 1-0 after Dimitrios Salpigidis\' first-half goal in the second leg.