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Mokhtar Arribi

Mokhtar Arribi (Arabic: مختار عريبي), born on February 24, 1924, in Sétif and died on September 4, 1989, in the same city, is one of the most prominent figures in Algerian football, as a player, coach, and symbol of the national struggle. A striker by training, he began his career with MC Alger between 1944 and 1946, then continued with FC Sète from 1946 to 1951. He then played for AS Cannes in 1951-1952, returned to FC Sète from 1953 to 1954, and then joined RC Lens in 1954-1955 before finishing his playing career with CS Hammam Lif from 1955 to 1957 and with Avignon in 1957-1958. In 1958, alongside Mohamed Boumezrag, he helped found the FLN team, a clandestine squad created to amplify the voice of the Algerian War of Independence throughout the world and give a sporting dimension to the national cause. Composed primarily of professional players from mainland France, Arribi played a central role, first as a player and then as the team's coach between 1958 and 1961. French authorities successfully lobbied FIFA to deny the team's recognition, and FIFA threatened sanctions against those who opposed it. Despite this ban, the "Independence Team" played over 80 matches, primarily in the Arab world, but also in Vietnam, Yugoslavia, China, and Romania.