French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a friendly between two-time AFCON winners Algeria and the defending FIFA World Cup champions.
Macron tabled the idea during his recent three-day state visit to Algeria that ended on Saturday in what was part of the reconciliation process between the two countries after a bloody eight-year war for liberation that led to the North African nation’s independence in 1962.
“It would be a good thing to ward off the past. Sport must reconcile our nations,” Marcon told journalists during his tour.
Macron said he hoped that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune would give the friendly a green light.
French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët has agreed to the proposed friendly game.
France is heading to Qatar to defend their title, but the 2019 AFCON winners Algeria failed to qualify for the World Cup.
The North African country could use the tie to prepare for future tournaments.
Algeria and France have not met since October 6, 2001, when their friendly in Paris was abandoned in the 75th minute due to a pitch invasion at Stade de France with the hosts leading 4-1.
France ruled Algeria for 130 years and later fought a brutal liberation war between 1954 to 1962 before handing the North African nation its independence.
