EQUATORIAL GUINEA-AFCON/ALGERIAN FAN Algeria's number one soccer fan makes a trip of a lifetime

Record ID: 574433

  • Title: EQUATORIAL GUINEA-AFCON/ALGERIAN FAN Algeria's number one soccer fan makes a trip of a lifetime
  • Date: 28th January 2015
  • Summary: MONGOMO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA (RECENT) (REUTERS) ALGERIA BADGE ON SHIRT OF ALGERIAN FAN, OUADI KADI'S SHIRT AND SEAT BAND VARIOUS OF KADI AND HIS FRIENDS HAVING BREAKFAST / TAKING SELFIES KADI'S FACE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALGERIAN FAN, OUADI KADI SAYING: "My name is Ouadi Abdi Kadir, my surname in Algeria, Kadir." KADI ARRIVES AT TEAM TRAINING SESSION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALGERIAN FAN, OUADI KADI SAYING: "I take three planes, from Algiers to Rabat, Kazar and then from Kazar to Malabo, and then from Malabo, here, Mongomo. In Mongomo, we drive... we take two taxis. See we are four supporters." KADI AND FRIENDS BEING INTERVIEWED BY CAMERA CREW. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALGERIAN FAN, OUADI KADI SAYING: "There aren't hotels. The hotels are few, just few and they are very expensive. For this reason our government don't help our supporters. We are only four now." MORE OF INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALGERIAN FAN, OUADI KADI SAYING: "When I was a child, I played football and I love my country, I love Algeria. Our team now, the players are very very youth and they played very very well in Brazil, World Cup. For this we love Algeria from our hearts." TEAM BUS ARRIVES WITH TEAM FOR TRAINING KADI WATCHES PLAYERS STEP DOWN FROM BUS ALGERIAN PLAYERS WALK INTO TRAINING. VARIOUS OF KADI AND FRIENDS CHANTING AFTER THE PLAYERS KADI AND A FRIEND WALKING TO THE MONGOMO STADIUM AND INTO THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM AT STADIUM VARIOUS OF KADI AT THE ALGERIAN TEAM PRESS CONFERENCE KADI AND FRIEND WALKING INSIDE STADIUM/ KADI HAVING HIS HAT ADJUSTED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALGERIAN FAN, OUADI KADI SAYING: "It is very very very hot. It is very difficult for our players. It is not easy to play like in Nigeria or like in Morocco or like in Europe. Here the climate is very difficult for us - for the supporters and also for the players." KADI AND FRIENDS MEETS PLAYER AFTER PRESS CONFERENCE. KADI WAVING GOODBYE TO PLAYER AS HE LEAVES MONGOMO STADIUM IN VAN
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Equatorial Guinea
  • Country: Equatorial Guinea
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8F09PBS04MQ840I909Z0P8Y5M
  • Story Text: He could be the Algerian football team's number one fan - Ouadi Kadir and his friends have been in the match city of Mongomo, where "The Greens" are based, since the start of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament. They wanted to be as close to the players as possible.
    There is no Equatorial Guinea Embassy in Algeria so Kadi and his friends were forced to apply for their visas in Morocco before even having the chance to make the trip.
    They arrived in Mongomo without a hotel booked, but luckily for them on day one in Mongomo they chanced upon the only Algerian living there who took them to his house and offered them a bed for the night.
    "I take three planes, from Algiers to Rabat, Kazar and then from Kazar to Malabo, and then from Malabo, here, Mongomo. In Mongomo, we drive... we take two taxis. See we are four supporters," Kadi said.
    "There aren't hotels. the hotels are few, just few and they are very expensive. For this reason our government don't help our supporters. We are only four now," he added.
    Forty five year-old Kadi has no doubts that his team will take the cup.
    Algeria clinched a place in the last eight at the African Nations Cup with a 2-0 win over Senegal that eliminated their opponents in their Group C clash on Tuesday (January 17).
    "When I was a child, I played football and I love my country, I love Algeria. Our team now, the players are very very youth and they played very very well in Brazil, World Cup. For this we love Algeria from our hearts," said Kadi.
    Kadi says he and his fellow supporters have been welcomed by the local Equatorial Guinean people wonderfully and have had little trouble on their trip.
    Being the only Algerian fans in Mongomo has also afforded Kadi and his friends unprecedented access to the Algerian team.
    Everywhere the team goes their fan club of four follows.
    Kadi, who hails from Roghaia in the capital city of Algiers, goes to press conferences and meets the players afterwards.
    The heat, however, has been hard to get used to and Kadi worries it could affect the performance of the Algerian team.
    "It is very very very hot. It is very difficult for our players. It is not easy to play like in Nigeria or like in Morocco or like in Europe. Here the climate is very difficult for us - for the supporters and also for the players," he said.
    Kadi and his friends have built relationships with the players - a dream come true for the avid fans.
    The players are also happy to have them around. Kadi never misses an opportunity for a quick picture to document his adventure.
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