From impression to decision: the analyst's job with Haithem Ammouchi (Algeria U19)

The Algerian U19 men's national team played in the African Nations Championship in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in September 2026, a qualifier for the U19 World Cup 2027. After the U20 & U18 women's national teams, we remain in Algeria, but this time from the other side of the screen: we spoke with Haithem Ammouchi, video and statistical analyst for this team.

Hello Haithem. Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Haithem Ammouchi, I am 30 years old. A former goalkeeper, coach, and video and statistical analyst in handball, I graduated from the University of Setif. I hold a Master's degree in elite sports training in handball, an IHF C license, as well as several other diplomas and certifications in the fields of coaching, video analysis, and statistics.

I have experience in coaching since 2016 and in video and statistical analysis since 2023. I currently work as a video and statistical analyst with the Algerian U19 men's national team.

What is the status of handball in Algeria?

Handball holds a significant place in the history of Algerian sport. It is the most successful team sport in Algeria, and, importantly, our country boasts a wealth of young talent. However, the challenge today is how to nurture, train, and develop these talents using modern methods. Handball is constantly evolving, making it essential to combine on-the-ground training, coaching, video analysis, and statistics.

Analysis allows us to move from impression to information, and then from information to decision-making.

What does the 2026 Men's U19 African Nations Championship in Ivory Coast represent for you?

For me, this competition represented a real test for the players and the technical staff, but also for me as an analyst.

Preparation is not limited to studying the opponent. It also includes analyzing our own team before the match: our level, our way of playing, our strengths and the aspects we need to improve.

We also study the opponent, their organization, habits, strengths and weaknesses, then we transform all this data into content and practical information that can be used by the staff and players.

During the match, the role of the analyst is to follow what is happening on the field and to identify certain indicators and changes that may help the staff to make appropriate decisions.

After the match, we review the video and statistics to analyze our team's performance and that of the opponent, to identify what was done well and what needs to be corrected and improved.

How did "Steazzi" help you in the preparation and during the competition?

Steazzi was a great help to me in my work, both during the preparation and during the competition. He enabled me to obtain precise data and indicators that could be used with the players and the technical staff, particularly in the specific work related to the goalkeepers and their coach.

For me, statistics are not just numbers. They are a way to identify certain trends, to confirm or question what we observe through video, and to provide concrete information to the staff and players.

Statistics give me the signal, video gives me the context, and my role is to transform this information into elements useful for performance.

Statistics give me the signal, video gives me the context.

How did you experience this competition?

This competition was a very important experience for me, both professionally and personally.

As an analyst, the work begins before the match with the analysis of our team and the opponent. It continues during the match by monitoring performance and key indicators, and then after the match by reviewing video and statistics to analyze what happened and draw lessons from it.

Of course, failing to qualify for the World Championship was a disappointment for us, as we had ambitions to achieve that goal. But true professionalism, in my opinion, lies in transforming this disappointment into a lesson, without making excuses or placing the blame on any particular person.

The key is to analyze what happened, identify the details that made the difference, and draw the necessary lessons to progress in the future.

What are your goals for 2027 and beyond?

I have several short, medium, and long-term goals. Academically, I hope to obtain a doctorate in sports training in the future and continue to develop my knowledge.

In terms of training, I wish to gradually obtain the international IHF B and then IHF A licenses, while continuing to develop as a coach and video and statistical analyst.

I also wish to contribute to the development of a culture of video and statistical analysis in handball, particularly by training young coaches and raising their awareness of how to integrate these tools into their daily work.

I also aspire to find an opportunity within a professional team or club that will allow me to put this philosophy into practice on the field, continuously and effectively.

My ultimate goal is to build a path that combines academic training, field experience, coaching and analysis, in order to put all these skills at the service of performance and development of handball.

To train, analyze, understand and transmit: a single ambition in the service of handball.

A big thank you to Haithem for his testimony! It's always a pleasure to receive feedback and direct reactions from the field and to discover the associated experience.

The Algerian U19 men's team finished 9th out of 14 at this African Nations Championship.