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Sporting Witness: Algeria's Revolutionary Football Team

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Algeria's Revolutionary Football Team

12/04/2014

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Algeria's Revolutionary Football Team

Algerian players secretly left their French clubs to form their own national team in 1958

In 1958 a group of Algerian players secretly left their clubs in France to form their own national team. Some were meant to play for France in the upcoming World Cup finals.

In April 1958 a group of Algerian players secretly left their clubs in France to form their own national team. Some had already been selected to play for France in the upcoming World Cup Finals. Saint Etienne striker, Rashid Mekhloufi, recalls the day that changed his footballing life.

Photo: The 1958 Algerian revolutionary team, reunited 30 years later. Rashid Mekhloufi is second from the right, front row

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