2 Global News Post 2
Lina Belouadah
Synopsis:
The country of Algeria, located in North Africa, values soccer as more than just a sport but a part of its nationalistic identity. From colonialism to corrupt governmental regimes, Algerian history is multidimensional and winning soccer tournaments has been a way to symbolize triumph and keep the momentum of nationalism going post-independence from France in July 1962. With the current opposition from civilians of the regime in rule, soccer almost serves as a distraction from reality while still allowing civilians to be patriotic.
Credit: Magharebia
Algeria is participating in the FIFA World Cup in the Winter of 2022 and this is a big deal given Algeria’s national team has been fervently triumphant in soccer for the past decade, particularly in 2021 when they took home the grand trophy for the FIFA Arab Cup. While this winning streak brings prestige and honor to the national team and its players, it can also bring layers of pressure and negativity that the athletes face. Players can sometimes be called traitors or frowned upon if they don’t bring home a trophy every game, so there is insistence to be the perfect player. Another layer of pressure that the players face is related to the political state of Algeria. With a corrupt government “overthrown” in 2019 due to peaceful protests and demonstrations by the Algerian people, the 2021 win of the Arab Cup by the DZ national team was seen as a symbol of accomplishment for the country. The turmoil that the country has faced throughout its history and even in its current state can be reflected in something as tangential as soccer, and surely we will continue to see more parallels unfold during the FIFA World Cup beginning November 2022.
APA Citations:
[Photograph of Algerian and Tunisian player in the 2013 African Cup Nations]. Magharebia. https://www.flickr.com/photos/29324474@N02/8433688958
Amara, M. (2022, January 20). Why football matters in Algeria. Red Pepper. Retrieved February 19, 2022, from https://www.redpepper.org.uk/why-football-matters-in-algeria/