EQUATORIAL GUINEA-AFCON/ALGERIAN FANS Algeria's dedicated soccer fans make a trip of a lifetime

Record ID: 574434

  • Title: EQUATORIAL GUINEA-AFCON/ALGERIAN FANS Algeria's dedicated soccer fans make 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 PHOTOGRAPHS TOGETHER KADI'S FACE KADI ARRIVING 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. 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." BUS CARRYING ALGERIAN PLAYERS / SUPPORTERS, MEDIA WAITING TEAM MEMBERS COMING OFF BUS / KADI STANDING BY BUS DOOR AS THEY EXIT ALGERIAN TEAM WALK ON PITCH FOR TRAINING VARIOUS OF KADI AND SUPPORTERS CHANTING KADI AND A FRIEND WALKING TO THE MONGOMO STADIUM, INTO NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM KADI IN NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM / ALGERIAN TEAM DURING NEWS CONFERENCE MORE OF NEWS CONFERENCE KADI AND FRIENDS INSIDE STADIUM (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 Algeria 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 MEETING MEMBER OF ALGERIAN SOCCER TEAM 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: LVAA1KKFHI4A685XOT75FWR4U8VJ
  • Story Text: He could be the Algerian football team's number one fan.
    Ouadi Kadi 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 go to Morocco to apply for their visas, before even starting the journey to the central African nation, 3000 kilometers (1864 miles) away.
    They arrived in Mongomo without a hotel booked, but luckily, on their first day in Mongomo, bumped into the only Algerian resident 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 given a wonderful welcome by the locals 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, attends news conferences and meets the players afterwards.
    The tropical 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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