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

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

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

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

  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