Egypt, Algeria in a growing diplomatic row caused by their bitter soccer rivalry

Egypt, Algeria soccer tiff grows

CAIRO — Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultations as part of a growing diplomatic row caused by a bitter soccer rivalry between the two Arab nations.

The Egyptian foreign ministry also summoned Algeria’s ambassador in Cairo to express to him its “extreme dismay” over attacks on Egyptian fans in the Sudanese capital Khartoum after a soccer match between the two nations there.

Egypt also complained Thursday about attacks on Egyptian interests in Algeria following a Saturday World Cup qualifying game in Cairo that Egypt won 2-0.

The 2-0 result left Egypt and Algeria level on points and with the same number of goals scored and conceded. The two played a make-or-break match in Khartoum Wednesday that Algeria won 1-0 to advance to the 2010 World Cup.