Soccer matches between Egypt's and Algeria's football teams should be played in the best atmosphere possible, the foreign ministers of the two respective countries have decided.
This agreement includes, in particular, an upcoming CAF Champions League quarter-final match between al-Ahly (Egypt) and JS Kyblie (Algeria).
Hossam Zaky, a spokesperson for Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, said both Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and his Algerian counterpart, Mourad Medlisi, expressed in a telephone call their mutual desire to facilitate the mission of sport delegations traveling between Egypt and Algeria, in hopes of moving beyond the negative consequences of past crises between the two countries' football supporters.
Asked whether Abul Gheit gave the Egyptian ambassador in Algeria instructions to seek security assurances for the al-Ahly team, Zaky said the Egyptian side has complete confidence in the Algerian authorities’ sense of responsibility and duty, and reiterated both sides' desire to turn a new page in relations by way of such sports events.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
