While national coach Djamel Belmadi will announce the list of players involved in the double confrontation against Niger this Friday, several binational footballers have announced their rallying to the Greens, some of whom have declined summons to the Blues.
This recalls, beyond measure, the rallying of “independence dribblers”, these Algerian professionals at the call of the FLN in April 1958 which will see the creation of the first Algerian team. Among which some internationals with the Blues of the France team, however selected by the coach at the time Paul Nicolas. Zitouni and Mekhloufi, Abdelaziz Bentifour and Mohamed Maouche were preparing to compete in the Swedish World Cup when they were called up to be part of this legendary epic of fighters through football. Zitouni was then 30 years old and Bentifour 31 years old while Mekhloufi and Maouche were only 22 years old. That is to say if the choice was not sporting. Another time, another cause! 65 years later, other footballers, certainly less assertive but who have talent and a future, choose to follow the same path. At the call of Djamel Belmadi and fans of the Greens. Tuesday will have been a significant day in this “dynamic” worked for a few months by the national coach who has always expressed the wish to see those who loved the national colors express themselves voluntarily and solemnly. Badreddine Bouanani (Nice), Farès Chaibi (Toulouse), Jaouen Hadjam (Nantes) and Houssem Aouar (Lyon) have officially turned the page of the France team to open a new one with the Algerian selection. It’s true, the Toulouse striker has never been part of the French youth selections, the “mesh” of the FFF ignored him before realizing that it was already too late. Indeed, Chaibi only began to really shine at the end of the past financial year. He was just 20 years old and his performances ended up persuading the FFF detectors that he was “interesting”. It was a waste of time on Tuesday, when the information of his summons to the French hopefuls was in the offices of his employer club, the young attacking midfielder will go out on social networks to declare his love for the Algerian team. “It is with enormous pride that I announce my choice to join the Algerian team. I would also like to thank the French Football Federation for their interest in me, but this choice comes straight from the heart. Can’t wait to wear this jersey, ”he wrote on his pages illustrated by an image where he wears the jersey of the Greens.
Twenty-four earlier, another young man steeped in qualities, who had worn the blue jersey for young people, formalized the change of his sporting nationality. Badreddine Bouanani, noticed during the JM of Oran where he was crowned with France, has indeed confirmed that he will no longer play for the France team. The young Aiglon, who sparkles with talent, has given his consent to Djamel Belmadi. His father, Nasreddine, former goalkeeper of WA Tlemcen, had promised that his son would only play for Algeria provided that the FAF expressed the desire.
Less publicized but whose qualities are well established, Jaouen Hadjam, a versatile former defender at Paris FC, is the new attraction of Beaujoire. The Canaries of FC Nantes do not fall in love with having gone to look for him this winter, him the young (19 years old) international (U20). In ten games, he managed to close mouths and “channel” vis-à-vis on his left lane of the Nantes defense. Expected in EDF to continue his ascent, the Parisian takes everyone by surprise and announces that he opts for the selection of the country of origin of his parents.
The Benzema effect!
The case of this trio provides information on a recent “trend” caused by the setbacks of the star with Algerian origins of Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, in the France team. Removed from the lists for 5 years, the Merengues striker who recently won the Ballon d’Or was back with the Blues in May 2021. A comeback which had surprised the fact that Deschamps, and the president of the FFF, Noel Le Graët, had vetoed such an eventuality. Despite a few flashes, Benzema fails to bring this “more” than DD hoped for him to triumph in the World Cup, in Qatar. This is why, embarrassed by a choice deemed “inappropriate”, Deschamps hoped… My injury to the Madrid player, which occurred in full preparation for the World Cup, came at the right time to get rid of a “cumbersome element”. So cumbersome that lies have multiplied regarding the real reason Benzema didn’t return to Doha after recovering. The latest took place last week following Deschamps’ interview on the columns of Le Parisien in which the French coach assured that it was the player who told him that he “would not have been ready” for resume service during the World Cup. The player’s reaction was immediate. Scathing. “Well, I’m going to have to explain myself for the people,” he replied on social networks.
This “conflict” will have been, according to many observers, a “good recipe” for Belmadi and the FAF emissaries to interact promptly in order to convince the most reluctant. Especially since the situation of Houssem Aouar within the club which trained Benzema was not famous since Aulas became aware of the “discussions” that his employee had with Algerian officials. A Jean-Michel Aulas who had played a key role in the career choice of a lot of OL members from Algeria, Cameroon and other African countries on which he exerted an “embrace” like no other so that they remain faithful to the Blues. Even if it means sacrificing their football career.
Until today, former Lyonnais like Amine Gouiri, or young people wearing the Gones jersey like Rayan Cherki do not hesitate to position themselves in their choice of international career for fear of not breaking through.
This harassment is a common practice, in France in particular, since the current coach of O Lyon, Laurent Blanc, then coach of the France team, suggested to the DTN / FFF, François Blaquart, the principle of unofficial discriminatory quotas in training centers and football schools in France with the aim of limiting the number of French players of African and North African types. The project dating from 2010 was the immediate consequence of the Law of the Bahamas which allowed the change of the sports passport. It seems that the “Benzema case” has awakened consciences and chased away the last fears…
Translated from https://www.lesoirdalgerie.com/sports/vent-de-fraicheur-dans-la-cour-des-verts-96203
