Algerian player Belfodhil joins the French U17 squad

The football player, born to Algerian origins Ishak Belfodhil cut short to the speculations concerning his future international career ending up by choosing the French U17 national squad.

•  The French coach Phillipe Bergerot called up “Setif” native son to join the U17 squad with the view to participating in the next European Nations’ Cup due to take place in Germany during the period between 6-17 May washing away the way the dream of millions of Algerians to see him wear the green jersey one day.
• He was given the French nationality along with his family:
• Ishak fell under the spell of series of opportunities and other social and economic incentives granted by the French authorities after spending years living in hiding in the town of Lyon. He has already declared that he was looking forward to be naturalized along with his family in order to play to the French squad and improve his family’s social conditions.
• He fulfilled his father’s dream
• Ishak Belfodhil followed the steps of other foreign players who chose to play to the French squad, but some of his relatives declared that he mostly driven by his father’s wish to join the “Blues” in order to settle his family’s administration status in Lyon.
• He was dreaming of playing to the “Greens”
• The player has, in many occasions, expressed his will to play to his native country. In one of his declarations to an Algerian sports site he said “If God gives the opportunity to pay to my country, I won’t miss it”. He denied allegations reported on a French web site that he wanted to play to France” I have never declared that I wanted to play to the French squad. Some French reporters have distorted my declarations”.
• Born in Setif and played to ES Setif
• Ishak Belfodhil was born in Setif (eastern Algeria) 17 years ago and played to the town’s club till the age of 14 before moving along with his family to Lyon. The former club’s manager Walid Sadi asserted that the player the player was in the club’s training center before quitting Algeria to Lyon.
• Meddane failed to convince Lyon’s administration
• The Algerian U17 squad coach assistant Hakim Meddane flew to France in order to convince the player to join the Algerian squad, but his club, Lyon strongly opposed the idea knowing that he was among the short listed players to take part in the European Cup of Nations, despite Ishak’s strong will to play the African Nations’ Cup.
• The ninth player lost by Algeria
• Ishak Belfodhil joins a long list of Algerian players who missed the opportunity to defend the colors of their native country, following the steps of such prestigious fellow citizens as Zidane, Naceri, Benzemma, Meriem, Meguenni, Abdoun, and Feghouli who recently joined the French U19 squad. The haemorrhage is likely to continue if the Algerian Football Association does not intervene to stop it.
• Boudebbouz could be the next one
• The next player that could slip through the hands of the Algerian national squad head coach Rabah Saadane would be Boudebbouz, who is knoking at the door of the French U19 squad. Algerian fans still do not understand the coach total indifference while French experts are closely supervising the player.