Football: Houssem Aouar, French international, will play for Algeria

Houssem Aouar with the jersey of the French club Lyon. © AFP - JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN

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Olympique Lyonnais' French-Algerian attacking midfielder Houssem Aouar, who has a selection for the France team, announced Thursday that he would now play for Algeria.

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In a video released by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) on its website, the 24-year-old said that the idea of representing the Fennecs "had been in his head for a very long time", and that he had finally decided after taking the time to think following a call from the boss of the FAF, Djahid Zefizef, who contacted him this summer while he was on holiday in Algeria.

« 

I have a large part of me that is French because I was born here and grew up here, but also, I have a large part of me that is Algerian because I have my origins and also the way I was educated at home simply," he explained in the video.

« A choice of the heart »

« 

I did not see myself doing the step myself, because I was afraid that it would be perceived as opportunistic, and there, the coach (Djamel Belmadi) and the president (of the FAF) reached out to me and I saw it as a sign of destiny, I had a second chance and I jumped on it. " he added.

« 

This selection means a lot to me, to my family, to my parents, so it's something very strong for me," he continued. "It's not a default choice at all, it's just a choice of the heart."

Aouar's only selection with the France team (against Ukraine) dates back to October 2020, but it was a friendly match, which allows the player to change his sporting nationality.

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• Algeria
• France
• Football
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