Egypt became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 12th Orange CAF U-20 Championship taking place in Algeria after beating the host 1-0 in Ain Temouchent on Tuesday night. Midfielder Ramy Rabiaa headed powerful past the goalkeeper on the stroke of half time. The Pharaohs beat Ghana 2-1 in their first group game on Saturday and with six points, they are assured of finishing in the top two and that also means qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup to come later in the year in June and July. The derby had its fair share of passionate and feisty football but clear cut chances were few and far between. The Egyptians made more meaningful use of the ball and possession and looked sharper on attack, with efficient use of wing play. Urged on by a full capacity crowd the hosts tried hard to match their opponents and perhaps were trying too hard as passes often went astray and shots were hurried but you couldn’t fault them for commitment and passion. The flowing football and supportive play in the midfield by the Egyptians helped them wrestle that area in their favour in the first half forcing Algerians to drop deep and leaving their strikers with little assistance upfront. The two keepers were kept busy with the Algeria keeper impressive as he constantly thwarted the danger on his goal. In one such move he was quick off his line to dive down and stop Rabiaa’s shot after the Egyptian had dribbled his way into the box. At the other end the crosses from Algeria were well watched most of the time by the goalkeeper and his safe hands clasped the majority of the shots from a distance by the Algerians. In the second half Algeria threw their all at it and wrestled back the midfield control as they started bombarding Egyptian goal with crosses and shots. Algeria’s constructive play wasn’t always rounded up with the right final touch or decision and with each broken down move the gasps in the stadium became louder. Towards the end Algeria almost got the equalizer but Egypt down to ten men in stoppage time after substitute Mohmoud Hammad got his second yellow during a scuffle hung on for victory over their arch rivals, who now need to beat Ghana on Friday to entertain any hopes of making the semis.