体坛英语新闻：Algeria edge Burkina Faso to secure World Cup berth

ALGIERS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Algeria football team on Tuesday secured a berth in the World Cup 2014 after beating at home Bourkina Faso 1-0 in the second leg play off held in Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida, 50 km south west Algiers.

The first leg, which was played in Ouagadougou a month ago, saw the Stallions of Burkina Faso winning 3-2.

Before more than 40,000 fans, the Desert Foxes of Algeria dominated the game, but managed to score only one goal by captain Madjid Bouguerra in the 49th minute.

This slight win was precious enough to send the men of Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic to Brazil.

"It is a dream coming true for me, for my players and for millions of Algerians," Halilhodzic told the state run television. "This is my gift to the Algerian people."

All the cities of Algeria turned into haunted places, as everybody joined their homes, or entered to cafes, and stuck to TV sets to watch the crucial game, leaving the streets empty in this rainy day of November.

As soon as the Senegalese referee blow the final whistle, tens of thousand people invaded the streets and main squares of Algiers, to celebrate the qualification to the World Cup.

Flags of Algeria were hung everywhere; on balconies, buildings and shops. Fans wearing the colors of Algeria on foot and on cars lighted the rainy and cold night sky with celebrations, blazing flames and fireworks.

It is the the fourth time Algeria qualifies to the World Cup after 1982, 1986, 2010. The Desert Foxes occupied the 32 spot in last month's FIFA ranking.