Abdelaziz Ben Tifour
Encyclopedia
Abdelaziz Ben Tifour was a professional French
-Algeria
n footballer who played as a forward.
activists featuring ten players in France’s provisional World Cup squad on the eve of the finals in Sweden. One of those players was Ben Tifour himself, who had played for the French national team
on four occasions including one appearance at the 1954 World Cup.
Born in Hussein-Dey, the youngster began making headlines for Tunisian club Al-Taraji (“Hope”) or Espérance as an eighteen year-old with his elder brother Mustapha, in a team coached by the legendary Algerian Cheikh Habib Draoua. After only a year with the Tunis based club; the brothers and fellow Algerian player Ben Battouche were tempted by a generous offer from rival team Club Sportif de Hammam-Lif
and helped the team to two consecutive Tunisia cups in 1947 and 1948. In the summer of 1948, he moved to Europe to play for French first division club OGC Nice
, making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Red Star Paris and by the time Ben Tifour played at the 1954 FIFA World Cup
in Switzerland in a 3–2 win over Mexico
; he had already won two league titles and a French Cup
with OGC Nice
. He moved to Troyes AC
after six seasons with Nice in 1954 and then signed for AS Monaco in 1956, which would be his last club in Europe. In total, he made 280 appearances in the French top division
, scoring 62 goals. He returned to Tunis
in 1958 to form the FLN Algerian national team
.
On his arrival in Tunis
, Ben Tifour was met by FLN
officials who did not believe in the team, thinking they would not stand up to the world’s best team, this only drove the players to greater things. Players like Ben Tifour, Rachid Mekloufi
and Mustapha Zitouni
proved them wrong with wins over Yugoslavia and credible draws with Hungary and Czechoslovakia. In the space of four years, Ben Tifour one of the founders behind the formation of the team would captain and later coach the team touring the world from the Far East to Eastern Europe. When Algeria was granted independence in 1962, the 33-year-old Ben Tifour unlike Mekloufi and Ahmed Oudjani
who moved back to play in Europe, returned to his homeland to take up a player-coach role at Union Sportive de la Medina d'Alger leading them to the first Algerian championship in 1963.
Ben Tifour died at the age of only 43 while he was coach at Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie during the 1970–1971 season.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n footballer who played as a forward.
Life and career
He was a pioneer of Algerian football playing in Tunisia and France in the 40s and 50s as well as establishing the first Algerian national team with two other FLNNational Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
activists featuring ten players in France’s provisional World Cup squad on the eve of the finals in Sweden. One of those players was Ben Tifour himself, who had played for the French national team
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
on four occasions including one appearance at the 1954 World Cup.
Born in Hussein-Dey, the youngster began making headlines for Tunisian club Al-Taraji (“Hope”) or Espérance as an eighteen year-old with his elder brother Mustapha, in a team coached by the legendary Algerian Cheikh Habib Draoua. After only a year with the Tunis based club; the brothers and fellow Algerian player Ben Battouche were tempted by a generous offer from rival team Club Sportif de Hammam-Lif
Club Sportif de Hammam-Lif
Club Sportif de Hammam-Lif is a football club from Hammam-Lif in Tunisia. Founded in 1944, the team plays in green and white colours. Their ground is Stade Bou Kornine, which has a capacity of 8,000 places.-Performance in national & domestic competitions:...
and helped the team to two consecutive Tunisia cups in 1947 and 1948. In the summer of 1948, he moved to Europe to play for French first division club OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
, making his debut in a 1–1 draw with Red Star Paris and by the time Ben Tifour played at the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
in Switzerland in a 3–2 win over Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
; he had already won two league titles and a French Cup
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
with OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
. He moved to Troyes AC
Troyes AC
Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne is a French association football club, based in Troyes. It was founded in 1900. The club was promoted to Ligue 1 for the 2005–06 season and their first Ligue 1 season was in 1954/55, and their second spell came in 1999/2000 Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube...
after six seasons with Nice in 1954 and then signed for AS Monaco in 1956, which would be his last club in Europe. In total, he made 280 appearances in the French top division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, scoring 62 goals. He returned to Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
in 1958 to form the FLN Algerian national team
Algeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
.
On his arrival in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Ben Tifour was met by FLN
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
officials who did not believe in the team, thinking they would not stand up to the world’s best team, this only drove the players to greater things. Players like Ben Tifour, Rachid Mekloufi
Rachid Mekloufi
Rachid Mekhloufi is an Algerian former football striker. He later became a manager, including coaching the Algeria national football team.-References:***** at * at...
and Mustapha Zitouni
Mustapha Zitouni
Mustapha Zitouni is a retired footballer. He played international football for both France and Algeria.-Career:Born in Algiers, French Algeria, Zitouni played at the club level in France as a defender for Stade Français, AS Cannes and AS Monaco...
proved them wrong with wins over Yugoslavia and credible draws with Hungary and Czechoslovakia. In the space of four years, Ben Tifour one of the founders behind the formation of the team would captain and later coach the team touring the world from the Far East to Eastern Europe. When Algeria was granted independence in 1962, the 33-year-old Ben Tifour unlike Mekloufi and Ahmed Oudjani
Ahmed Oudjani
Ahmed Oudjani was an Algerian football striker.-Biography:Oudjani was a member of the legendary Algerian FLN team before the country gained its independence. He is also the all-time top scorer in RC Lens history, having scored 94 goals in 148 matches for the team, including 6 goals in one game...
who moved back to play in Europe, returned to his homeland to take up a player-coach role at Union Sportive de la Medina d'Alger leading them to the first Algerian championship in 1963.
Ben Tifour died at the age of only 43 while he was coach at Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie during the 1970–1971 season.
Clubs
- Espérance Sportive de Tunis (1945–1946)
- Club Sportif de Hammam Lif (1946–1948)
- OGC NiceOGC NiceOlympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
(1948–1954) - Association Sportive Troyenne SavinienneTroyes ACEspérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne is a French association football club, based in Troyes. It was founded in 1900. The club was promoted to Ligue 1 for the 2005–06 season and their first Ligue 1 season was in 1954/55, and their second spell came in 1999/2000 Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube...
(1954–1956) - AS Monaco (1956–1958)
- FLN Equipe (1958–1962)
- USMA, Union Sportive de la Medina d'Alger (1962–1963)