From France to Algeria: Aouar & Aït-Nouri have confirmed

France’s Nations League winners

Olympique Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar apparently wants to play for Algeria instead of France. That’s what the Algerian association president Djahid Zefizef said on the “Chaîne 3” station. The 24-year-old “promised us,” said Zefizef (quoted via “RMC Sports“). The same applies to left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri (21) from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Aouar has played for his native France since the Under-17s but, having only played in an A friendly in 2020, is eligible for a transfer. Although he is considered the 2021 Nations League winner, he was only included once in the squad during the tournament. Aouar himself has not yet commented publicly on this.

According to the Algerian official, there are also talks with storm talent Amine Gouiri from FC Stade Rennes. “In his case, however, nothing has been decided yet,” said Zefizef. The attacker, who also came from Lyon’s youth, is a French U21 international and has not yet been called up for the vice world champion. He last appeared for Sylvain Ripoll’s team in November. Aït-Nouri, albeit younger, was last part of the France youth team in 2020.

Second nationality & no A competitive games: Aouar & Co. eligible to play for Algeria

The place of birth is the main criterion used to determine which countries a player can play for. The professional himself, his mother, father or one of the grandparents must have been born in the territory of the federation. All other family members do not count – neither the adoptive parents, nor the great-grandfather, nor your own wife. If a professional cannot meet the place of birth criterion, there is the possibility of being eligible to play for a country after several years of residence.

Up to 2020, there were also very clear rules: If a professional was on the pitch, even if only for a second, in an official A competition game such as the European Championship qualifier, there was no longer an option to change. In certain cases, even youth international matches could mean that it is no longer possible to change associations. If a player already has both citizenships when he plays in a youth competition like the U19 European Championship for the first time, he can change associations afterwards. Even if a player does not receive second citizenship until after their youth tournament matches, there is still the possibility of being able to switch. The last youth competition match must have taken place before the 21st birthday. The latter applies to Aït-Nouri, but not to Aouar and Gouiri, but the former.

Giroud in front, Benzema in 5th place: France’s record goalscorers

9. Jean Pierre Papin | 30 goals in 54 games

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1986–1995 (as of December 19, 2022)

9. Just Fontaine | 30 goals in 21 games

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1953-1960

8. Zinedine Zidane | 31 goals in 108 games

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1994-2006

7. David Trezeguet | 34 goals in 71 games

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1998-2008

6. Kylian Mbappé I 36 goals in 66 games

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since 2017

5. Karim Benzema | 37 goals in 97 games

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2007-2022

4.Michel Platini | 41 goals in 72 games

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1976-1987

3. Antoine Griezmann | 42 goals in 117 games

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since 2014

2. Thierry Henry | 51 goals in 123 games

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1997-2010

1.Olivier Giroud | 53 goals in 120 games

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since 2011

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