In 1958, in the midst of Algeria’s war of independence
against their imperial rulers France, Algeria formed a football team which for
the first time wore the national colours. Its line-up included Rachid Makhloufi,
Ben Tifour and other Algerians who were professional players in France.
Makhoulfi had also been capped for the French national team.
Blockaded by the colonial power, Algeria only managed to
play against Monocco – who were then banned from FIFA for several years – and
engage in several low key but significant games organised by sports unions in some Arab and Eastern
European countries. FIFA and the French football league blacklisted the players involved and they were barred
from ever returning to professional activity. This showed the bravery of the footballers
who were prepared to give up everything, including a comfortable life as
professional footballers, for the independence
of their homeland and its people.
However, after Algeria won its independence, the French football league had no alternative but to call up the players the fans longed for.
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