The Algerians think the Egyptians are arrogant. The Egyptians think the Algerians are violent and uncouth. And nowhere does the rivalry manifest itself more than on the football field.

An Olympic qualifier in the 1980s descended into a mass brawl and only last season coach Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim were banned indefinitely after the fourth official was assaulted when their Egyptian club Masri lost in Algeria.

Hossam was the scorer of the winning goal in 1989 and that dark day continues to cast a shadow two decades later.

‘There is no doubt 1989 was the worst one of all,’ said an Egyptian football insider.

‘We all know the story of the Egyptian doctor who had his eye gouged out.
‘Balloumi has always denied it but people don’t believe it. I don’t think the doctor who lost the eye really cares who it was.

‘People are saying it’s the biggest match in Egypt’s history but others
think the rivalry has gone way out of proportion. It shouldn’t be a case of do or die, or life and death. But, with football, we tend to forget about good relations and it descends into a war zone.’

And, in Sudan on Wednesday, only one of these bitter rivals was left standing.