Wikipedia

Western Sahara national football team

The Western Sahara national football team (Arabic: منتخب الصحراء الغربية لكرة القدم, Spanish: Selección de fútbol del Sahara Occidental) represents Western Sahara (SADR), a disputed territory, in association football. Controlled by the Sahrawi Football Federation, they are members of World Unity Football Alliance for non-FIFA-affiliated nations.

Western Sahara
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)الإبل Los Dromedarios (The Dromedaries)[1]
Associationالاتحاد الصحراوي لكرة القدم
Federación Saharaui de Fútbol
ConfederationWorld Unity Football Alliance
Head coachMohendi Abdelay
Most capsEl-Mahfoud Welad (5)
Top scorerSahia Ahmed Budah (4)
Home stadiumStade de Tindouf
FIFA codeSADR
ESH
First colours
Second colours
First international
Unofficial
Algeria FLN football team Veterans – Western Sahara 
(Algiers, Algeria; Date Unknown 1976)
France Le Mans UC 72 3–2 Western Sahara 
(France; Date Unknown 1988)
Official
 Galicia 2–1 Western Sahara 
(Teo, Spain; 23 December 2011)
Algeria MC Alger 6–1 Western Sahara 
(Algiers, Algeria; 20 May 2023)
Biggest win
 Western Sahara 5–1 Darfur 
(Arbil, Iraq; 7 June 2012)
 Western Sahara 4–0 Esperanto
(Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; 31 July 2015)
Biggest defeat
 Western Sahara 3–17 EUGA Ardziv Armenia
(Marseille, France; 23 June 2013)
Viva World Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2012)
Best resultSixth place (2012)

History

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Origins (1976–2003)

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Many teams have represented Western Sahara, or the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), in unofficial matches. One of the earliest known football game of the Sahrawi national team took place in 1976, when they faced off against veterans of the FLN football team. The historic match was held at the iconic 20 August Stadium in Algiers, and the Saharawi team was coached by Rachid Mekhloufi, an esteemed figure in Algerian football[3]

More friendlies would be played later on in 1984 against different teams of the Algerian football league. In 1986-87, the Saharawi selection would go to face different Italian and Spanish teams before formally establishing the Sahrawi Football Federation in 1989.[4] A year before that In 1988, the Sahrawi selection would even face Le Mans UC 72 in France, in a game they would lose 3–2.[5] More games would be played in 1994 as part of a friendlies tour of Algeria, before disappearing off the radars in the following years.[6]

On 27 February 2001, during the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the SADR, a match was played in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria between a Sahrawi Republic team and a Basque Country veterans team. The match was attended by more than 4,000 fans, and was abandoned during the second half owing to the temperature (38 °C) with the score at 2–2.[7]

A year later on the 8th of May 2002, another game was set between "Rock no war", a foundation dedicated to promoting peace through music and sports, and the newly established Saharawi national team.[8] The game ended on a victory of the latter on the score of 6 - 2.[9]

NF-Board membership and foundation (2003–2012)

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On 12 December 2003, the Sahrawi Football Federation became one of the first members to be provisionally affiliated to the Nouvelle Fédération Board.[10] The SFF failed to attend the 2006 N.F.-Board AGM but were present in the 6th General Assembly held on the 5 December 2009 in Paris, France.[11] In 2007, a team representing Western Sahara beat Macau 1–0.

On 23 December 2011, a mixed-sex team from the Spanish region of Galicia beat a team composed of members of the Sahrawi diaspora in Spain 2–1, in a match played in Teo that was attended by 1,500 fans.[12]

2012 VIVA World Cup

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On the 25 March 2012, Mohamed Moulud Mohamed Fadel, SADR Minister for Youth and Sports, announced the official creation of the Sahrawi national football team.[13] After which, the minister announced that the national team would be participating in the upcoming VIVA World Cup held in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Trials were held a few days later in the camps and eventually a team of 20 players was selected, all of them playing for local teams.[14] The team held a five-day internship at the "Chahid Am-mi Lamjeilil" Officer Training School in preparation, and on the 30th of May, the Saharawi selection traveled to the Algerian capital, where they conducted a short training session at Omar Hamadai Stadium in Bologhine before leaving for the competition.

All members of the Sahrawi mission traveled to Arbil using Sahrawi passports. However, when presented to the Kurdish authorities, the later initially refused to grant the selection entry, stating that this document was not recognized.[15] They insisted that they could only enter under the name of Morocco which the team refused, stating that they would rather wait for a plane back then do so. After some negotiations with the Kurdistan government however, the team was finally granted entry.

Thus, the Sahrawi national football team made its official international debut at the inauguration match of the VIVA World Cup, playing against the host team, Kurdistan at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Arbil, Iraq on 4 June 2012.[16] The Dromedaries lost 6–0 to the team which went on to win the tournament. Their next match was against Occitania, a 6–2 defeat, and the team finished in third position in Group A.[17] The next match was a play-off against Darfur, and ended in a 5–1 victory, Saharawi's first official international victory. They beat Raetia 3–0 before losing the fifth place match 3–1 to Occitania.[18]

The Sahrawi national football team and federation had to face a deal made between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Government of Morocco, which consisted of avoiding the display of the SADR flag during ceremonies and matches of the VIVA tournament.[19] Despite this, the SADR team managed to arrange extraofficial deals with all their rivals to fly the Sahrawi flag wave on the stadiums where they played their matches.[20][21][22]

ConIFA and Zamenhof Cup (2012–2020)

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On 31 July 2015, the Sahrawi team beat the Esperanto Team by 4–0 at the Stadium Lille Métropole. The match was part of the Zamenhof Cup, event made during the 100th World Esperanto Congress.[23]

On 13 April 2018, the ConIFA announces the death of El-Mahfoud Welad, the goalkeeper of the Western Sahara national team, who was killed during the 2018 Algerian Air Force Il-76 crash.

In 2020, Western Sahara would participate in the 2020 CONIFA World Football Cup, but due to logistical problems, they withdrew from playing in the competition. The competition would later be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Present (2020–present)

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In June 2020, Western Sahara joined the World Unity Football Alliance.[24]

The ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Algeria, Abdelkader Taleb Omar, announced on 18 May 2023 in Algiers the "official birth" of the Sahrawi football team, on the occasion of the festivities marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Polisario Front.[25]

Led by Mohandi Abdelahy Mulay,[26] the Saharawi selection played against the dean of Algerian clubs, the historic Mouloudia Club of Algiers, at the new 'Nelson Mandela' stadium in Baraki, on the outskirts of the Algerian capital. The match ended 6-1 in favor of the Algerian club. Mustafa Troncoso, a skilled striker representing Coria CF in Spain, managed to find the back of the net in the first minutes of the game and secured the sole goal for the Sahrawi team. Most of Saharawi players in the selection compete in various football leagues in Spain, France, Germany, and Sweden, with the addition of three other players who play in teams from the Refugee camps in Tindouf.[27]

The second game in the Western Sahara national football team's friendly series in Algeria was played three days later at the Mabrouki Salem Stadium in Rouiba. They faced against MC Rouiba, a club that evolves in the Honour Division 1 of the Algerian Championship. The match ended on a score of 3 - 3 with Fadili Deich, Ali Radjel and Boulahi Nan scoring the goals for the Saharawi selection.

The Saharawi national football team was honored at the headquarters of Algerian newspaper El Moudjahid, overseen by the Mishaal El Shaheed Association. The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including the Algerian Minister of Mujahideen, and the Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria, along with other ambassadors from several countries. The team received honorary medals, and their achievements were praised as a step towards international recognition. The event highlighted pledges of future support and the establishment of internships for the team in participating countries.[28]

Team image

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The old logo of the Sahrawi National Football team featuring a dromedary.

Kits and crest

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Kit provider Period
  AMS Clothing 2016–2018
  Orlo Sport 2020–2021
  Cejudo 2021–present

The Sahrawi national football team traditionally adorned predominantly green jerseys for the first years of their inception, however since 2021 the Sahrawi selection adopted a new home kit that is white with black sleeves, inspired by the main colours of the Sahrawi flag. Conversely, the away kit embraced a blend of black and green and a third kit was introduced, featuring the signature full green colouring.

The crest of the Sahrawi national team used to feature a dromedary which inspired the nickname of the team. However in 2021, the Sahrawi Football Federation adopted a new crest featuring a gazelle, a typical animal of the Sahrawi fauna. On a post on their official Twitter page, they explained the meaning behind the new crest being that the gazelle "represents beauty and elegance ... it's synonymous with skill and agility; adjectives that represent our players well".

Selected internationals

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No. Date Venue Opponents Score Competition Western Sahara scorers Att. Ref.
— 1976 20 August 1955 Stadium, Algeria   FLN football team Veterans – Friendly Unknown –
— 1988 France   Le Mans UC 72 2–3 Friendly Unknown –
1 27 February 2001 Tindouf   Basque Country 2–2 25th anniversary of the SADR proclamation Unknown 4,000 [7]
— 8 May 2002 Tindouf   Rock No War Team 6–2 Friendly Unknown –
2 2007   Macau 1–0 Friendly Unknown –
3 23 December 2011 Cacherias, Teo   Galicia 1–2 Friendly Unknown 1,500 [12]
4 4 June 2012 Franso Hariri Stadium, Erbil   Kurdistan Region 0–6 2012 Viva World Cup 9,000 [29]
5 5 June 2012 Ararat Stadium, Salahaddin   Occitania 2–6 2012 Viva World Cup Budah, Malum 200 [22]
6 7 June 2012 Franso Hariri Stadium, Arbil   Darfur 5–1 2012 Viva World Cup Budah (2) Malum, Maaruf, El Mami –
7 8 June 2012 Franso Hariri Stadium, Arbil   Raetia 3–0 2012 Viva World Cup Ali, El Mami, Boiah – [21]
8 9 June 2012 Ararat Stadium, Salahaddin   Occitania 1–3 2012 Viva World Cup Bijah –
— 23 June 2013 Stadium Albert Eynaud, Marseille   UGA Ardeiv 3–17 2013 International Tournament of Peoples, Cultures and Tribes Budah, unknown goals (2) – [30]
9 24 June 2013 Stade Bonneveine Terrades, Marseille   Kurdistan Region 0–6 2013 International Tournament of Peoples, Cultures and Tribes – [30]
10 28 June 2013 Henri Michellier Stadium, Marseille   Tibet 2–12 2013 International Tournament of Peoples, Cultures and Tribes Raghoua (2) – [30]
— 27 March 2014 Sarria   S.D. Sarriana 3–1 Friendly Daf (2), Nazy – [31]
— 28 March 2014 Vigo   Celta de Vigo Veterans 3–1 Friendly Adda (2), Daf –
— 29 March 2014 Noia   Ría de Noia - Muros Selection 0–2 Friendly – [32]
11 31 July 2015 Stadium Lille Métropole, Villeneuve-d'Ascq   Esperanto 4–01 2015 Zamenhof Cup Unknown – [33]
— 13 August 2016 20 August 1955 Stadium, Algiers   NA Hussein Dey –[A] Friendly2 –
— 17 June 2017 Stade de Tindouf, Tindouf   UNHCR 3–3 Friendly Boglaida (2), Mohammed –
— 10 August 2018 Pep Claramunt Stadium, Valencia   UD Puçol 1–6 Friendly Unknown – [34]
— 20 February 2019 Stade de Tindouf, Tindouf   CSA Aek Tindouf 0–1 Friendly –
— 3 August 2022 Stade Océane, Le Havre   SS Gournay 2–1 Friendly Fadili, Ismael Mou – [35]
— 6 August 2022 Stade Océane, Le Havre   ESM Gonfreville 2–2 Friendly Sidahmed (2) – [36]
— 19 May 2023 Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers   MC Alger 1–6 Friendly Boudah ~30,000 [37]
— 23 May 2023 Mabrouki Salem Stadium, Rouiba   MC Rouiba 3–3 Friendly Deich, Radjel, Nan –
Notes

^1 The game was abandoned half way due to equipment being stolen from the Esperanto team locker room.

^2 The game was cancelled due to the Saharawi team not getting the required authorisations in time.

All-time record

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As of 23 May 2023 after the match against   MC Rouiba

Against other nations

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  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Basque Country 1 0 1 0 2 2 0
  Darfur 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4
  Esperanto 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4
  Galicia 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1
  Kurdistan Region 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12
  Macau 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
  Occitania 2 0 0 2 3 9 −6
  Raetia 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3
  Tibet 1 0 0 1 2 12 −10
Total 11 4 1 6 21 38 −15

Against club sides

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  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD
  Celta de Vigo Veterans 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  CSA Aek Tindouf 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
  ESM Gonfreville 1 0 1 0 2 2 0
  FC Gournay 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
  Le Mans FC 1 0 0 1 2 3 −1
  MC Alger 1 0 0 1 1 6 -5
  MC Rouiba 1 0 1 0 3 3 0
  Rìa de Noia - Muros Selection 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2
  Rock No War Team 1 1 0 0 6 2 +4
  S.D. Sarriana 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2
  UD Puçol 1 0 0 1 1 6 −5
  UGA Ardeiv 1 0 0 1 3 17 −14
  UNHCR 1 0 1 0 3 3 0
Total 13 4 3 6 29 48 −19

Coaching Staff

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As of May 2023.[38][39]
Position Name
Head coach   Mohandi Abdelay Mulay
Assistant coaches   Francisco José Cruz
  Juanma Suárez
Goalkeeping coach   Bal-la Abeidi Salek
Trainer   Adrián Sanchez López
Doctor   Medjahed Mehdi
Physiotherapist   Lakroute Mohamed Lamin

Players

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Current squad

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  • The following players were called up for the friendly game against MC Alger (  Algeria)
  • Match dates: 20 May 2023
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 23 May 2023, after the match against MC Rouiba (  Algeria).
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Mohamed Yeslem 1 0
2 2DF Nico Deidih 1 0
3 2DF Faly Mulay 1 0
4 2DF Ismail Islem 1 0
5 2DF El Ghailani Mohamed Salem 1 0
6 3MF Kentaui Mohamed Salem 1 0
7 4FW Jordi Sid Ahmed 1 0
8 3MF Brahim Monak 1 0
9 4FW Ali Radjel Cheikh Bachir (1998-01-18) 18 January 1998 (age 26) 2 1   CD Palencia Cristo Atlético
10 3MF Mustapha Tronsno Espinar 1 1   Coria CF
11 4FW Osman Daddah 1 0
12 Bulahi Nan 2 1
13 Wanati Khalihina 1 0
14 Fadili Deich 2 1
15 Mohammed Elouali 1 0
16 1GK Ozman Mulay 1 0   Al Salam CS
17 Ismael Mouloud 1 0
18 Moulud Sais 1 0
19 Husein Mohamed 1 0
20 Salkou Nan 1 0
21 Malainin Luchaa 1 0
22 1GK Mohammed Buda 1 0   Al Salam CS

Notable players

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Managers

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Competitive record

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World tournaments

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World tournaments record
Year Result Position GP W D L GS GA
VIVA World Cup
  2006 Did not enter
  2008
  2009
  2010
  2012 Group stage 6th 5 2 0 3 8 16
International Tournament of Peoples, Cultures and Tribes
  2013 Group stage 6th 3 0 0 3 5 35
Zamenhof Cup
  2015 Champion 1st 1 1 0 0 4 0
ConIFA World Football Cup
  2014 Did not enter
  2016
  2018 Did not qualify
Total 1 title 3/10 9 3 0 6 17 51

National stadium

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Stade Sheikh Mohamed Laghdaf in Laayoune seats 15,000

References

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  1. ^ Zoo africano Pablo Aro Geraldes – International football journalism (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  3. ^ "الأسبوع الرياضي" Episode aired on the 22nd of Mai, 2023.
  4. ^ جدلية, Jadaliyya-. "The Western Sahara and Football: A Path toward Self-Determination?". Jadaliyya - جدلية. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  5. ^ "The Dromedaries". inbedwithmaradona.com. February 15, 2013.
  6. ^ NSOL (2019-06-25). "Tour du Monde – Zoom sur le Sahara occidental". Demivolée.com (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  7. ^ a b "República Sahara – Euskadi" (in Spanish). Ueskadiko Futbol Federakundea – Federación Vasca de Fútbol. Archived from the original on 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  8. ^ "Una partita sotto il cielo del Sahara". www.rocknowar.it (in Italian). 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  9. ^ "Rock No War: Insieme al popolo Saharawi". www.arcoiris.tv. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  10. ^ "List Federations Affiliated to NF-Board". N.F.-Board. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  11. ^ Apso (2009-12-18). "APSO: Participation des représentants du Foot Ball Sahraoui à l'AG de la NF-Board". APSO. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  12. ^ a b "La selección gallega venció al combinado saharahui en Teo" (in Spanish). El Correo Gallego. 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  13. ^ "Establishment of Saharawi national football team (Minister of Youth and Sport)". SPS. 2012-03-25. Archived from the original on 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  14. ^ Apso (2012-05-27). "APSO: L'équipe du Sahara Occidental à la Viva Word Cup 2012". APSO. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  15. ^ "الطريق إلى اربيل ... المنتخب الصحراوي في بطولة العالم للاقاليم". المستقلة للأنباء (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  16. ^ Arsalan Abdullah (2012-05-31). "2012 VIVA World Cup matches kick off Monday". AK News. Archived from the original on 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  17. ^ "Western Sahara – Occitania 2/6". Vivaworldcup2012.com. 2012-05-06. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  18. ^ "Calendar results". Vivaworldcup2012.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  19. ^ James M. Dorsey (2012-06-15). "Iraqi Kurds' VIVA World Cup win rises hopes for nationhood". Hurriyet. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  20. ^ Andoni Lubaki I (2012-06-17). "La selección de las arenas vuelve a casa" (in Spanish). Gara. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  21. ^ a b Sahara Occidental – Rhétie, 3–0 sous le soleil kurde APSO
  22. ^ a b VIVA World Cup 2012 ™, Occitanie – Sahara Occidental, 6–2 APSO
  23. ^ Gordon, James Patrick (1 August 2015). "Esperanto vs Western Sahara Challenges Our Ideas Of What International Football Looks Like". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  24. ^ World Unity FA (2020-07-08). "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE". World Unity Cup 2016. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  25. ^ "Sport/Sahara Occidental : naissance de la sélection sahraouie de football" [Sport/Western Sahara: birth of the Sahrawi football team]. Algeria Press Service (in French). May 18, 2023. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  26. ^ Larrán, Jesús Cabaleiro (2023-05-21). "Fútbol y Sahara (6). Partido solidario en Argel". Periodistas en Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  27. ^ "Sahrawi football team plays first match in its history against Mouloudia of Algiers". Sahara Press Service. 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  28. ^ "تكريم المنتخب الوطني الصحراوي بمقر جريدة المجاهد الجزائرية". وكالة الأنباء الصحراوية (in Arabic). 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  29. ^ "Kurdistan wins 6-0 in VIVA's opening match | Sports | AKNEWS.com". 2012-06-07. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  30. ^ a b c Flash foot Marseille : nouveaux goupes, les matchs de l’équipe du Sahara Occidental (saharadoc)
  31. ^ "Goles por un Sáhara libre en los campos de Galicia". 28 March 2014.
  32. ^ Federación Saharaui-Fútbol España (March 30, 2014). "La Selección Nacional Saharaui, Goleó por un Sahara Libre". Facebook. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  33. ^ "Esperanto vs Western Sahara Challenges Our Ideas Of What International Football Looks Like :: Soccer :: News :: Paste". 2015-08-03. Archived from the original on 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  34. ^ Larrán, Jesús Cabaleiro (2018-08-13). "Fútbol y Sahara (IV)". Periodistas en Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  35. ^ "Clausura de la semana del deporte solidario en honor a la selección saharaui de fútbol". 7 August 2022.
  36. ^ Abdalay, Mulay. "Segundo partido disputado en Francia". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  37. ^ "ALG : MC Alger – EN Sahara occidental, au stade Nelson Mandela". 15 May 2023.
  38. ^ Federación Saharaui de Deportes [@oficialfsd] (May 19, 2023). "¡Os presentamos a nuestro equipo técnico! 👉🏽Entrenador: Mohamdi Mulay Ahmed Cori. 👉🏽 Segundo Entrenador: Francisco José Cruz. 👉🏽 Preparador físico: Adrián Sanchez López" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Federación Saharaui de Deportes [@oficialfsd] (May 19, 2023). "👉🏽 Médico: Dr Medjahed Mehdi 👉🏽 Fisioterapeuta: Lakroute Mohamed Lamin. 👉🏽 Preparador de porteros: Bal-la Abeidi Salek. Por supuesto no nos olvidamos de nuestro Coach Juanma Suárez que por temas personales finalmente no podrá estar con nosotros, te tenemos presente compañero" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Twitter.
  40. ^ "THE DROMEDARIES". inbedwithmaradona.com. 16 February 2013.
  41. ^ "This Football Is a Game of Dispossession". ipsnews.net. 25 June 2012.
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