Former Algeria centre-back Mustapha Zitouni died, aged 85, on Sunday following a long illness.
Zitouni, born in French Algeria, played for France four times but gave up the chance to play at the 1958 World Cup.
Instead he opted to help form a team for Algeria's National Liberation Front (FLN), who sought independence.
The FLN side played 80 matches in worldwide tours before Algerian independence in 1962 and Zitouni later won seven caps for Algeria.
Algiers-born Zitouni was France's first choice centre-back ahead of the 1958 finals in Sweden and was described by former Real Madrid great Alfredo di Stefano as one of the best defenders in Europe.
But he gave up his career with Monaco and France to join fellow Algerians, also playing in the French leagues, to form the underground football team of the (FLN), seeking independence from the French.
The mass defection just months before the World Cup, which also included another regular France international Rachid Mekloufi, caused a major storm in France but did much to publicise the Algerian cause.
Zitouni also played and coached RC Kouba before coaching in Libya and returning to France where he worked for Algerian airlines in Nice.
Among his four caps for France was an appearance at Wembley against England in late 1957.
UPDATE 2-Air Algerie signs deals to buy Airbus, Boeing jets
* Deals to strengthen domestic, international routes
* Boeing purchase for 737-800 jets, $724 million cost
* Air Algerie facing rivalries on foreign routes
By Hamid Ould Ahmed
ALGIERS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Algeria's national carrier Air Algerie signed deals on Monday to buy three 250-seat Airbus passenger jets and eight 150-seat jets from Boeing , company officials said.
The government-owned airline announced its intention last year to buy 14 passenger aircraft ranging from 70 to 250 seats and two 13-20 tonne-capacity cargo jets, in order to renew its fleet and fend off growing competition.
"This will help us reinforce domestic and international routes," Air Algerie chief Mohamed Salah Boultif said at a signing ceremony in Algiers.
Boultif said the aircraft - Airbus 330-200 passenger jets and Boeing 737-800 jets - would be delivered between next September and the end of 2016 in agreements that would be financed by Algerian state banks.
Boeing in a statement said its deal for eight 737-800 aircraft was worth $724 million at list prices when the order was finalized.
Air Algerie will also sign a deal to purchase another three 70-seat 72-600 aircraft from ATR, a joint venture between Airbus parent EADS and Finmeccanica unit Alenia Aermacchi.
Air Algerie said it was also in talks also to purchase two cargo planes. One Algerian official said the carrier was in negotiations with Boeing over that deal.
Algeria's state carrier has a monopoly on domestic routes, but faces growing competition on external flights, where its main overseas routes are to Europe and the Middle East.
Main rivals include Air France and British Airways, but Qatar Airways, Emirates and Royal Jordanian are among other airlines that have started regular direct services to Algiers.
*****
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* Boeing purchase for 737-800 jets, $724 million cost
* Air Algerie facing rivalries on foreign routes
By Hamid Ould Ahmed
ALGIERS, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Algeria's national carrier Air Algerie signed deals on Monday to buy three 250-seat Airbus passenger jets and eight 150-seat jets from Boeing , company officials said.
The government-owned airline announced its intention last year to buy 14 passenger aircraft ranging from 70 to 250 seats and two 13-20 tonne-capacity cargo jets, in order to renew its fleet and fend off growing competition.
"This will help us reinforce domestic and international routes," Air Algerie chief Mohamed Salah Boultif said at a signing ceremony in Algiers.
Boultif said the aircraft - Airbus 330-200 passenger jets and Boeing 737-800 jets - would be delivered between next September and the end of 2016 in agreements that would be financed by Algerian state banks.
Boeing in a statement said its deal for eight 737-800 aircraft was worth $724 million at list prices when the order was finalized.
Air Algerie will also sign a deal to purchase another three 70-seat 72-600 aircraft from ATR, a joint venture between Airbus parent EADS and Finmeccanica unit Alenia Aermacchi.
Air Algerie said it was also in talks also to purchase two cargo planes. One Algerian official said the carrier was in negotiations with Boeing over that deal.
Algeria's state carrier has a monopoly on domestic routes, but faces growing competition on external flights, where its main overseas routes are to Europe and the Middle East.
Main rivals include Air France and British Airways, but Qatar Airways, Emirates and Royal Jordanian are among other airlines that have started regular direct services to Algiers.
*****
With Umugenzi, you can Find Friends, you could Find Jobs, you may Watch Videos, you might Listen to Music, you should Start blogging, you would Interact in Groups, Plan Events, you also are free to Establish your Own Social network, because Umugenzi Network is all about U.
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