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Witness History: Algeria's rebel footballers

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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

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