Algiers : Algeria qualified for their first World Cup in 24 years with a 1-0 win over Egypt on Wednesday, triggering wild celebrations in Algiers.
A stunning first-half strike by defender Antar Yahya gave Algeria victory in the play-off 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 sent thousands of people, including veiled women, to the streets of the Algerian capital Algiers to celebrate, with some setting off fireworks. Traffic came to a standstill in the centre of the city.
The match was played in Khartoum, Sudan, after the two teams finished their group matches level on points and having scored and conceded the same number of goals.
The win means Algeria will make their first appearance at a World Cup since 1986 and once again highlighted Egypt's inability to carry their impressive form in Africa — they have won the African Cup a record six times — into World Cup qualification tournaments.
Egypt last appeared at a World Cup in 1990.
Sweet revenge
Thursday's win was sweet revenge for the Algerians who were denied a second successive World Cup appearance when in 1989 the Egyptians won 1-0 at home in a make-or-break qualifying game that sent them to the 1990 World Cup.
Wednesday's match in Khartoum's Mareikh stadium was only possible after Egypt's Emad Motaeb scored deep in injury time to seal a 2-0 win over Algeria in Cairo on Saturday.
The rivalry between the two has been fierce for decades with a history of fan violence.
In France, celebrations were marred by violence in some areas, with cars set alight and police firing tear gas. Hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, flooded into the streets in towns and villages across Algeria, celebrating with flags, fireworks and car horns.
Even a few police officers lost their cool, sounding their sirens to join in the rapture at the triumph of "les Verts" — Algeria's green-shirted side who beat Egypt 1-0 in the do-or-die playoff in Khartoum.
Around Algiers, fans shouted "Thank you, les Verts", "One, two, three, viva Algeria" and "We're going to the World Cup".
Packed into cars and running through the crowded streets, young men and women — many wrapped in the green and white national flag — beamed with happiness.
"It's too much, they've given us everything," said Naima, 18, laughing and crying at once.
"Do you have any idea what the tension was like? We've shown our support for the team since they were beaten in Cairo on Saturday and now we've done it. The dream has come true!" one of her friends shouted.
Huge crowds turned out on the promenade in the western coastal city of Oran and similar scenes of jubilation were reported in other towns and villages around the country.
"The players took their revenge on the pitch and they gave joy to all the Algerian people," said Mohammad Raouraoua, president of the Algerian football federation, the APS news agency reported.
RESULTS
African Group C Playoff
At Khartoum, Sudan
Algeria 1 Egypt 0
(Algeria qualify)
