Rabat – Thousands of lives were torn apart when a devastating earthquake struck Morocco’s Al Haouz region in September 2023. Among the survivors was Abderrahim Ouhida, a young boy who lost his family and home in the tragedy.
His interview with Al Arabiya after the disaster touched the hearts of many. Abderrahim, who was wearing a Real Madrid jersey, cried as he said he had lost his mother, father, grandfather, and two of his siblings.
One year later, his story of survival and strength has reached one of the biggest football stages in the world. On Saturday, Abderrahim will take the honorary kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu before Real Madrid’s league match against Espanyol.
The club has embraced him in recent months and offered him experiences that most young football fans could only dream of. Earlier this week, Abderrahim traveled to Madrid to watch Real Madrid face Marseille in the Champions League.
After the match, he met the players, received autographs, and shared a special moment with Kylian Mbappé, who gifted him a signed shirt.
The visit didn’t stop there. Real Madrid showed him their Champions League trophies, opened the doors of their training complex, and even introduced him to the basketball squad.
This isn’t the first time the club has reached out to Abderrahim. Last year, he received jerseys signed by Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. But stepping onto the Bernabéu pitch, ball at his feet, will be a moment of even greater meaning.
For Real Madrid, it is a tribute to Abderrahim’s resilience in the face of disaster.
The Al Haouz earthquake claimed the lives of thousands of people and left behind a trail of destruction. And now, more than two years later, many affected communities complain about delays, or even exclusions, in the implementation of post-earthquake measures, including housing benefits for displaced families.
Many recently took part in protests to demand action.
