Popular Loyalty to a Humble President Overwhelms the Subservience of the Makhzen: When Military Salutes and the Spontaneous “Uncle Tebboune” Expose the Networks of Disinformation
By Maamar Gani
The stands of Nelson Mandela Stadium were not merely a sporting venue hosting the final of the national cup; they became a shockwave that paralysed the very foundations of the Makhzen system. While Algeria lived an exceptional football celebration and an almost symbolic fusion between leader and people, the Makhzen’s media apparatus was, in the darkness of its rooms, weaving desperate montage operations aimed at fabricating a distorted image visible only to those blind in perception and conscience.
Field messages that shattered the illusions of the observers
Those in Rabat were consumed by rage as they witnessed the spontaneous interaction and sincere affection surrounding the Algerian President. The scene of USM Alger player Kamagaté offering a military salute to President Tebboune after scoring the opening goal—an act enthusiastically echoed by the crowd—alongside the spontaneous moment when the President responded to a child calling him “Uncle Tebboune” by moving toward him and returning his greeting with humility and without formality, all constituted encoded messages clearly understood: Algeria is one body—people, army, and leader.
This remarkable success in organisation and popular cohesion pushed the voices of the Makhzen to fabricate chants that exist only in their diseased imagination, through blatant editing that inserted the slogan “You have looted the country, you thieves” into the scenes of national unity in an attempt to corrupt them. It is the very slogan once echoed in Moroccan stadiums, which their digital propaganda machine now seeks to falsely attribute to conscious Algerian crowds.
An international testimony that exposes failed propaganda
And because truth prevails over falsehood, a decisive response came directly from the field through diplomatic testimony: the Austrian ambassador in Algeria expressed his admiration for the magnificent atmosphere, praising the high sporting spirit and the extraordinary environment created by passionate supporters. This international testimony struck like a blow against attempts at distortion, confirming that the entire world witnessed the simplicity of the President, his humility with his people, and the strength and prestige of the Algerian state, in contrast to an absent monarch and a regime sustained by intrigue.
The paradox of organisation: Algerian order versus Makhzen chaos
While Algeria delivered a lesson in organisation, control, and crowd security, stadiums in Morocco turned into scenes of street violence. The criminal incidents and brutal assaults witnessed during matches involving Raja Casablanca, AS FAR, RS Berkane, and Kawkab Marrakech pushed the so-called professional league to adopt strict measures, including banning the movement of supporters. Ironically, Moroccan sports actors themselves are now openly calling for the adoption of the Algerian model of restricting supporter travel in order to salvage what remains of their collapsing system.
Who are the real “thieves”?
If theft is to be discussed, then one must look at the holding structures that absorb the wealth of the Moroccan people for the benefit of Mohammed VI and his royal circle. One must look at the companies of Prime Minister Akhannouch and the rest of the palace oligarchy that monopolise the economy while the people sink into hardship. These are the true thieves who have looted the country’s wealth and sold the dignity of their people, in exchange for illusory promises of continental glory stained by conspiracies and corruption within CAF structures. They have bartered sovereignty for a fictional World Cup project, while Algeria remains a fortified state, untouched by montage storms or digital propaganda campaigns.
The images of the cup final—marked by the President’s smile and the people’s embrace—will remain a lasting frustration for every voice of distortion. Algeria continues to build and rise through the spirit of a new state, while its neighbour sinks into violence, stadium chaos, and fabricated narratives exposed by reality itself. The difference is vast, like that between sky and earth—and the answer always comes from the ground, not from dark editing rooms.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
Dzair Tube Media Group | Record and Standing
Dzair Tube is a leading Algerian digital journalism platform, delivering high-quality content in Arabic, French, and English. With a daily readership exceeding 500,000, it has established itself among the country’s most influential media organizations.
Recognized for editorial excellence and integrity, Dzair Tube was awarded the President of the Republic’s Prize for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on 22 October 2022. The platform operates from state-of-the-art studios, producing diverse programming across news, sports, culture, entertainment, and religion.
Dzair Tube maintains a robust digital presence, with over 600,000 YouTube subscribers, six million followers across Facebook pages, and more than 70,000 Instagram followers. Its sports daily, Dzair Sport, enjoys over 50,000 daily downloads via its official website, cementing its leadership in multimedia journalism.
Further recognized with the Media Leadership Award by former Minister of Communication Mohamed Laâgab and celebrated at the Hilals of Television awards, Dzair Tube continues to set benchmarks in innovation, influence, and public engagement, serving as a key forum for civic discourse, critical analysis, and public affairs.
Official website: www.dzair-tube.dz | English: www.dzair-tube.dz/en
