A key World Cup qualifier between Algeria and Egypt has reawakened the two sides' decades-long rivalry as both countries are eager to make another WC appearance in years.

Thousands of Algerians hope to buy plane tickets to Sudan, where the second leg of the World Cup play-off match against Egypt will be held.

Wednesday's sudden-death game is needed to separate the teams following Saturday's tense final group qualifier in Cairo that ended 2-0 on Egypt's favor.

Four members of the Algerian football squad were injured on Thursday when their team's bus was attacked with stones as it arrived in Cairo for the game.

Following the match, around 20 Algerians were injured in clashes in and around Cairo.

The teams have an intense rivalry that goes back decades. The last time they met in a major tournament was in 1989, when the match was followed by riots.

Algeria, the African Nations Cup winners in 1990, were participants in Spain and Mexico World Cups in 1982 and 1986, while Egypt featured in 1934 and 1990 and have won the continental title six times, including in 2006 and 2008.

Security forces have been deployed to protect the Egyptian embassy in Algiers after Egyptian businesses in the Algerian capital were attacked.

The demonstration had begun peacefully with a procession and shouts of "One, two, three. Go Algeria!"

As tensions built, fans broke through the metal shutters of an Egypt Air branch, smashed the windows and ransacked the office.

The offices of telephone company Djeezy were also broken into and there were reports of a Djeezy employee being assaulted at the Algiers airport.

The BBC's Arab affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi, says this is the first time the violence has reached such a level.

According to one analyst, despite official efforts to contain the hysteria by emphasizing common culture and religion, loyalty to the respective football teams appears to have the upper hand.

HSH/AKM