“One reason why I like USM Alger is their supporters hit you with songs," explained one supporter before the Derby of Algiers last March. "Their lyrics are bullets.”

Two of Ouled El Bahdja’s songs resonated heavily during the protests: ‘La Casa Del Mouradia’ and ‘Ultima Verba’. The first chronicles Bouteflika’s four terms, and paints his premature fifth in unfavourable light:

"In the first [term], they tricked us with 'reconciliation',

In the second [term] it became clear: 'La Casa del Mouradia',

In the third [term] the country suffered due to personal interests,

In the fourth [term] the puppet died and the problem remains.

The fifth [term] is coming, they’ve already set it up.”

The second is based on a poem, penned by the celebrated French author, Victor Hugo. The chorus goes:

”Freedom, freedom, freedom, the Kop is singing.”

One of Algeria’s biggest up-and-coming artists, Soolking, recently teamed up with Ouled El Bahdja to rejig a few verses and published his own version of ‘Ultima Verba’, entitled ‘Liberté’.

To date, the song has over 130 million views on YouTube and was heard from every street corner in the country during the months of April and May.

A politically conscious squad

It was in this charged socio-political environment that the Algerian national team prepared for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. A few months before the tournament, coach Djamel Belmadi spoke to beIN Sports about the political protests, which had been dubbed the ‘Hirak’ ('movement'):

“You can only congratulate the Algerian people because they are doing great things. We hope things will change for the better. It’s on us to give as much joy as possible.”