Algeria defender hailed for refusing to travel with Turkiye team to Israel

Algerian international football player Ahmed Touba was widely praised for his rejection to travel to Israel alongside his Turkish team, Istanbul Basaksehir.

Istanbul Basaksehir travelled to Israel and faced the Israeli team, Maccabi Netanya, in the second leg of the preliminary round of the Europa Conference League matches.

According to Turkish and Israeli media, Touba also refused to participate in the first leg match held in Istanbul last week.

The first leg ended with 1-1, and the second leg held in Tel Aviv ended with 0-1 in favour of Istanbul Basaksehir.

Activists on social media were quick to support Touba’s actions: “In a heroic position, the Algerian player Ahmed Touba refuses to travel with his Turkish club to the Zionist entity for a friendly interview,” Abu Luqman posted on Twitter.

Ziad Yasser, another activist, tweeted: “Do not be ashamed, Ahmed, you are a hero.”

While Saudis for Al-Aqsa posted: “All of us are with you, Ahmed.”

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