Algeria's football federation (FAF) has requested that the second leg of their 2022 World Cup play-off against Cameroon be replayed amid complaints about refereeing decisions.
The north Africans were eliminated on away goals after a 2-1 defeat after extra time in Blida on Tuesday, with Cameroon forward Karl Toko Ekambi scoring the winner in the 124th minute.
Nearly two days after the 2nd leg of World Cup qualifier which opposed Algeria to Cameroon, tensions are still high.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) issued a statement on Thursday after it demanded a replay of the game. Citing "outrageous" refereeing decisions by Gambian Bakary Gassama which "have skewed the result" of the game, the FAF logded an appeal with FIFA FIFA to have a match replay.
However, the president of the Algerian Football Federation said "the chances" for this bid to be successfull were "low" as he did not wish to "to sell illusions" to Algerian fans.
In dramatic fashion, Cameroon secured an 8th World Cup participation by beating Algeria (2-1) on Tuesday. Algerian fans protested penalties had not been granted. Cameroonian Karl-Toko Ekambi scored last second goal in 120th+4 minutes. Shattering the dreams of millions of Fennecs fans who assembled en masse at the Blida stadium.
Cameroon secured their place on away goals with the last kick of the match against Algeria, deep into extra time, as Karl Toko Ekambi swept home a speculative cross to win the match 2-1.
Algeria, who had won the first leg in Cameroon 1-0, were left crestfallen by the defeat.
“We were only 10 seconds away from the World Cup. We collapsed,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said after the loss.
“We put our lives on hold for this match and this success and we only had qualification on our minds. It is going to be hard to get through the next days.”
Egypt claims ‘racist’ fan behaviour
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) launched a complaint with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against its Senegalese counterpart for violent and “racist” fan behaviour, according to a statement released on Wednesday, after Senegal defeated Egypt in a penalty shoot-out to qualify for Qatar 2022. Egypt is also demanding the match be replayed.
According to the EFA’s statement, “The Egyptian team was subjected to racism as crowds held up offensive banners in the stands, particularly against team captain Mohamed Salah.”
The complaint also said players were pelted with water bottles and stones during their warm-up.
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