Nassim Mekidèche

Nassim Mekidèche
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-04-30) April 30, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Laval, Québec, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
HFX Wanderers
Number 44
Youth career
CS Étoiles de L'Est
2018–2021 JS Kabylie
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 JS Kabylie 5 (0)
2021–2022 CS Hammam-Lif 4 (0)
2022 Valour FC 10 (0)
2023 Sporting Kansas City II 20 (2)
2024 US Monastir 0 (0)
2024– HFX Wanderers 7 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2024

Nassim Mekidèche (Arabic: نسيم مقيداش; born April 3, 2000) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for the HFX Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League.

Early life

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Born in Laval, Quebec to parents of Algerian descent, Mekidèche played youth soccer with CS Fabrose and CS Étoiles de L'Est.[1][2] He represented Quebec at the 2017 Canada Summer Games.[3]

Club career

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In May 2018, Mekidèche signed a three-year contract with Algerian club JS Kabylie,[4] initially joining the youth side, with the plan to train regularly with the first team.[5] On November 23, 2018, he made his professional debut, coming on at halftime in a league match against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj.[6] After making minimal appearances for JSK, the club was still interested in extending his contract,[7] which he did signing for an additional two years in August 2020.[8] In February 2021, he underwent surgery on his meniscus, leaving him out for the remainder of the season.[9]

In September 2021, he joined Tunisian club CS Hammam-Lif in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1.[10][11] After only making four appearances, he departed the club.[12]

In July 2022, he joined Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League,[13][14] despite interest from Algerian clubs CR Belouizdad and ES Sétif.[15][16] He made ten appearances with the club, before departing at the end of the season.[2]

After the expiry of his contract with Valour, he was invited to trial with Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City during their 2023 pre-season.[17] In January 2023, he signed a contract with the second team, Sporting Kansas City II, in MLS Next Pro.[18][19] He scored on his debut on March 26 against Colorado Rapids 2.[20]

In January 2024, he signed with US Monastir in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1.[21] Three months later, he was released by the club.[1]

On September 13, 2024, he signed with the HFX Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026.[22][23] He made his debut the next day, starting against Forge FC.[24]

Career statistics

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As of match played October 19, 2024[25]
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
JS Kabylie 2018–19 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
2019–20 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2020–21 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
CS Hammam-Lif 2021–22 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 4 0 0 0 4 0
Valour FC 2022 Canadian Premier League 10 0 0 0 10 0
Sporting Kansas City II 2023 MLS Next Pro 20 2 1 0 21 2
HFX Wanderers 2024 Canadian Premier League 7 2 0 0 7 2
Career total 46 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 4

References

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  1. ^ a b Parisis, Quentin (September 26, 2024). "Nassim Mekideche : L'abnégation d'un globe-trotter au service des Wanderers de Halifax" [Nassim Mekideche: The self-denial of a globetrotter in the service of the Halifax Wanderers]. Canadian Premier League (in French).
  2. ^ a b Jacques, John (January 28, 2023). "Mekideche On CPL, MLS, And What's Next". Northern Tribune.
  3. ^ "Nassim Mekideche signe en Tunisie!" [Nassim Mekideche signs in Tunisia!]. Obelisq (in French). September 9, 2021.
  4. ^ عبد الرحمان بلعاليا (Abd al-Rahman Belalia) (May 14, 2018). "نسيم مقيداش أول المستقدمين في شبيبة القبائل" [Nassim Mekidèche was the first recruit in JS Kabylie]. El Bilad TV (in Arabic).
  5. ^ "JSK : Nassim Mekidèche officiellement Canari" [JSK: Nassim Mekidèche officially Canary] (in French). Le Buteur. May 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Ziani, Walid [@bylka613_] (November 23, 2018). "Signed a 3-year contract with JS Kabylie this past summer and has been playing with the U19s & U21s before making his #Ligue1DZ debut today vs CA Bordj Bou Arreridj" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "JSK : Mekidèche pas chaud pour rester" [JSK: Mekidèche not hot to stay]. Compétition (in French). August 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Annoncé sur le départ par plusieurs médias, Nassim Mekidèche renouvelle son contrat à la JSK" [Announced on the departure by several media, Nassim Mekidèche renews his contract at JSK]. Vava Innova (in French).
  9. ^ "Mekideche opéré du ménisque" [Mekideche operated meniscus]. L'Expression (in French). February 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Touabi, Juba (September 10, 2021). "Mercato : Mekideche signe au CS Hammam Lif (Tunisie)" [Transfer market: Mekideche signs with CS Hammam Lif (Tunisia)]. DZ Foot (in French).
  11. ^ "نادي حمام الأنف التونسي ينتدب المدافع الجزائري نسيم مقيدش من شبيبة القبائل" [Tunisia's Hammam-Lif Club recruits Algerian defender Nassim Mekideche from JS Kabylie]. Radio Algeria (in Arabic). 10 September 2021.
  12. ^ Jacques, John (July 8, 2022). "Valour Adds Canadian-Algerian Defender Nassim Mekideche". Northern Tribune.
  13. ^ Touabi, Juba (July 9, 2022). "Mercato : Nassim Mekideche atterri au Valour FC (Canada)" [Mercato: Nassim Mekideche lands at Valour FC (Canada)]. DZ Foot (in French).
  14. ^ "Valour FC signs Canadian defender Nassim Mekideche". Valour FC. July 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "Mekideche dans le viseur du CRB et de l'ESS" [Mekideche in the sights of the CRB and the ESS]. DZ Live (in French). June 8, 2022.
  16. ^ Rabah, Farid Kada (June 7, 2022). "Un défenseur Algéro-Canadien convoité en Algérie et en MLS" [An Algerian-Canadian defender coveted in Algeria and in MLS]. DZ Ballon (in French).
  17. ^ Jacques, John (January 9, 2023). "Mekideche Set For MLS Trial". Northern Tribune.
  18. ^ Kovzan, Sam (January 23, 2023). "Sporting KC II signs Algerian Canadian defender Nassim Mekideche". Sporting Kansas City.
  19. ^ Jacques, John (January 23, 2023). "Mekideche Inks MLS Next Pro Deal With SKC". Northern Tribune.
  20. ^ Jacques, John (March 27, 2023). "Former CPL Talents Shine In MLS Next Pro Opening Weekend". Northern Tribune.
  21. ^ سامي السطنبولي (Al-Stanbouli, Sami) (31 January 2024). "ماذا عن انتدابات الاتحاد الرياضي المنستيري قبل غلق الميركاتو الشتوي؟" [What about the assignments of the Monastir Sports Federation before the winter Mercato closes?]. Mosaïque FM (in Arabic).
  22. ^ "Wanderers sign Canadian defender Nassim Mekideche through 2025". HFX Wanderers FC. September 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Healey, Josh (September 13, 2024). "After a career spanning MLS Next Pro and time in Algeria and Tunisia, Nassim Mekideche says he returns to the CPL a more mature player". Wanderers Notebook.
  24. ^ Viswanathan, Gautam (September 14, 2024). "Highlights: Halifax Wanderers FC 3-0 Forge FC — CPL Match #89". Canadian Premier League.
  25. ^ Nassim Mekidèche at Soccerway
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