Algeria edge Burkina Faso to secure FIFA World Cup berth

Blida (Algeria) - Algeria secured a berth in the 2014 World Cup, beating Burkina Faso 1-0 at home in the second leg playoff here in the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium.

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

Before 40,000 fans Tuesday, the Desert Foxes of Algeria dominated the game and scored the only goal of the match by captain Madjid Bouguerra in the 49th minute. The win was enough to send the men of Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodzic to Brazil.

“It is a dream come true for me, for my players and for millions of Algerians. This is my gift to the Algerian people,” Halilhodzic said.

This is the the fourth time Algeria have qualified for the World Cup after 1982, 1986, 2010. The Desert Foxes occupied 32nd spot in last month’s FIFA rankings.