This Thursday, March 16, 2023, Houssem Aouar gave an interview to the Algerian Football Federation. For the occasion, the Olympique Lyonnais player confirmed his decision to choose this selection and leave the Blues. In this interview, he also spoke of his regret for having favored the France team for his early career. Explanations.
Houssem Aouar decides to leave the Blues for Algeria
In a few days, the Blues will be back on the pitch for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches in Germany. Indeed, the players of Didier Deschamps will face the Netherlands on Friday March 24 and will then move to Ireland. But a few days before these important matches for the Blues, a player made a decisive choice, on the eve of Euro 2024. Indeed, Houssem Aouar decided to no longer wear the French jersey. On his Instagram account, the Olympique Lyonnais player revealed himself with the Algerian jersey to formalize his change of sporting nationality.
A reversal allowed by FIFA. Indeed, the new regulations granted him the right to change his sporting nationality. Indeed, not playing any official match with the formation of Didier Deschamps, Houssem Aouar was eligible to wear the Algerian jersey. As a reminder, the midfielder had played an hour during the friendly match won against Ukraine at the Stade de France (7-1) in 2020. But since then, nothing. It is for this reason that he believes he made the wrong choice at the start:
This Algerian selection means a lot to me and my family. To be honest, after choosing to join the France team, I felt regret. I personally felt that I had not made the choice that was right for me
Houssem Aouar for the Algerian selection
A first selection in September?
To know his first selection with Algeria, Houssem Aouar will have to wait a little bit. If Fennecs coach Djamel Belmadi wanted to take him for the March internship, the Lyonnais refused. Indeed, the player has just returned from injury and would have decided to join the Algerian selection only next September.
