Meet The People of The FIFA Arab Cup™ (Algeria Edition - Part 5)

03 January 2022

Storyteller: Nabil Ouchene

Can you tell us about your football journey and current football life?

Hi! My name is Nabil Ouchene and I’m a 40-year-old Algerian living in Qatar since 2011, and working for Qatar Gas as a Maintenance Engineer.

Like many other Algerians, my story with football starts at a very young age. Football is the only game we played during our childhood. When I was 15 to 18 years old, I played as part of a team in my hometown of Isser, a small town near Algiers – the capital city of Algeria. When I went to university at the age of 18 I moved to the north-eastern city of Skikda and I played with the Algerian Petroleum Institute team. Unfortunately, since I started working in Oil and Gas at the age of 26, I could no longer find time to play because of the nature of my job, but I’ve never stopped enjoying supporting football.

I’ve definitely always been a football fan. When I used to live in Algeria, I regularly watched matches at stadiums…Actually, I have never missed any Algerian match in Algiers until I moved to Qatar. My favourite team in Algeria is Mouloudia Club d'Alger (MCA), while in Qatar it’s without a doubt Al-Sadd SC as I really enjoy watching their games.

How was the experience of watching Algeria play live in the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™?

The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ was a big sporting event. It was definitely an amazing and unforgettable tournament. Attending and taking part at a FIFA event where my country’s football team participated and won the title is a dream come true. The best moment was the exceptional goal of Yacine Brahimi during the final - the second goal against Tunisia. The match was very intense, and the Eagles of Carthage kept on pressuring our team right up to the last minute of extra time.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning?

Unfortunately, most people don’t know anything about Algeria, except for Riyad Mahrez, a professional Algerian footballer who plays for Manchester City. When I took the photos, my aim was to focus on ‘Algerians’ and ‘Algerian fans’. I wanted to tell the story of the most passionate supporters in football’s history. I tried to show the love of the Algerian community for football - males and females, young and old supporters. These football fans created the most beautiful atmosphere both in and out of the stadiums. Here’s a little secret for you… Algerians don’t only watch football, they live it!

Are there any good stories connected with the specific fans you photographed?

Let me tell you a story of my friend Okacha. While we’re both proudly Algerians, we come from two different cities, which are very far away from one another – more than 500 kilometres apart! He’s originally from El Bayadh, while I was born and raised in Isser, and the only thing that connects us is our love for the Algerian national football team.

I met Okacha for the first time all the way back in 2014 in a stadium in Algiers and I remember him wearing such a unique, famous and traditional hat called ‘Al-Midhal’. Since then we have never missed any football game. What I truly appreciate about him is his sense of pride! He is the only Algerian fan that I know who wears the old traditional men’s costume at a football match, whether in or out of Algeria.

Known in the Algerian community for his traditional outfit at matches, he’s become famous and the symbol of Algerian fans, exactly like the ‘sombrero’ hat is for Mexicans. Can you believe that even the Algerian football players take photos with Okacha’s ‘Al-Midhal’ hat?

What role does football play in your Algerian community?

For the Algerian community in Qatar, football is part of our lifestyle and community tradition. We frequently organise tournaments between us since football is about uniting and gathering people. In our culture, supporting the Algerian national team is part of our patriotism.  Supporting football is supporting the flag. As an Algerian living in Qatar, it is my duty to lead the football supporters.

What does football mean to you? What ambitions do you have for the future?

Football is a big part of my life. It gives many moments of joy and happiness and pleasure. In the future, I will be more prepared for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, I will travel more to watch our Algerian team, and I will be here in Qatar when they come for the FIFA World Cup™.

How is Qatar changing ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™? Do you have a message for the world ahead of the event?

I believe that Qatar is positively making big changes of the view of the Arab region to the rest of the world, through its amazing construction and infrastructure. Qatar is also demonstrating the Qatari and Arabic culture of generous hospitality. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be a unique, beautiful and splendid event from a social, cultural, and sporting perspective. In my humble opinion, I truly believe it will be the best FIFA World Cup™ in history and I can’t wait!

For images, please click here.

This special series was created in collaboration between Qatar Airways and Goal Click.