Original version

BBC World Service Australasia

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Algeria's rebel footballers

Documentaries

Algeria's rebel footballers

29/04/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Algeria's rebel footballers

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.

During Algeria's War of Independence, 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 in 1958. In 2014, Saint Etienne striker, Rashid Mekhloufi, spoke to Mike Lanchin about 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

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Algeria's rebel footballers

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Australasia

About BBC World Service