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Mohamed Allam (Arabic: محمد علام), born in Algiers on April 24, 1926, and died on August 10, 2010, is one of the leading figures of the Algerian Revolution and the epic story of the FLN football team. Born in the Lower Casbah of Algiers, he became involved in the nationalist movement at a very young age within the Algerian People's Party (PPA). His militant activities quickly attracted the attention of the French colonial authorities, leading him to leave Algeria for Tunisia in the late 1940s. When the National Liberation Front (FLN) team was created in 1958 to champion the cause of Algerian independence on the international stage, Mohamed Allam became its political leader. Alongside Mohamed Boumezrag, he played a crucial role in organizing this legendary team composed of professional players who had left French clubs to support the liberation struggle. He organized international tours, established contacts with numerous foreign national teams, and used every match to raise global awareness of the Algerian cause. Thanks to his diplomatic and organizational efforts, the FLN team played dozens of matches in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, becoming a powerful tool for political communication in service of the Revolution. His actions helped give international visibility to the Algerian people's fight for independence. After Algeria's independence in 1962, Mohamed Allam continued his commitment to national sport. He participated in establishing the country's first sports organizations, contributed to the creation of the Algerian Olympic Committee, and notably served as president of the Algerian Boxing Federation. He also pursued a diplomatic career while remaining a leading figure in the Algerian sports movement. Mohamed Allam passed away on August 10, 2010 in Zéralda, at the age of 84. His career remains linked to the history of the FLN team, a symbol of the struggle for independence and of the commitment of sport to the service of a national cause.

Delve into the story of the Algerian footballers who traded European pitches to join the fight for independence. In 1958, in the midst of the War of Independence, talented players secretly left their clubs to form the FLN team – a living symbol of the Algerian people's struggle. This clandestine team, banned by FIFA, served as a mouthpiece for the Algerian provisional government until 1962. Footballer Rachid Mekhloufi explained: “This departure of the best Algerian players playing in France was no accident. With the control of the media, few French people knew what was happening in Algeria. The FLN representatives in France were ahead of the curve in terms of publicity. Truly ahead of the curve, because a move like this allowed the French people and the rest of the world to open their eyes.”

In 1958, in the midst of the Algerian War and two months before the World Cup, the French Football Federation (FFF) discovered on April 15th that nine of its players of Algerian origin had secretly left France to join the headquarters of the National Liberation Front (FLN) in Tunis, where the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic (GPRA) was based. They chose to leave everything behind—careers, fame, money—to support the FLN cause: the independence of the Algerian people. Their daring escape was worthy of a thriller and made headlines across the international press. For four years, the FLN team toured the world and became the standard-bearer for a people. FIFA refused to recognize the team and threatened federations that played against it with sanctions. Nevertheless, the team made a lasting impression with 57 wins, 14 draws, and 12 losses in 83 matches. Ferhat Abbas, president of the GPRA, told them, "You have gained ten years for the cause of independent Algeria."
