Nizar Issaoui (Arabic: نزار العيساوي; 30 September 1987 – 13 April 2023) was a Tunisian professional footballer who played as a forward.[1]

Nizar Issaoui
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-09-30)30 September 1987
Place of birth Haffouz, Tunisia
Date of death 13 April 2023(2023-04-13) (aged 35)
Place of death Ben Arous, Tunisia
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011-2013 Grombalia Sports
2013-2014 LPS Tozeur 11 (5)
2014 US Monastirienne 18 (8)
2014-2015 AS Gabès
2015 Al-Orobah
2015-2016 EGS Gafsa 7 (1)
2016 LPS Tozeur
2016-2018 SA Menzel Bourguiba
2018-2019 CS Jebiniana
2019 AS Jilma
2019-2022 ES Haffouz
2022-2023 US Ksour Essef
2023 ES El Jem
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Issaoui signed his first professional contract at the age of 24 in 2011, at Grombalia Sports then in the Tunisian second tier, and contributed to the clubs promotion to the top flight.[2]

In 2012, Issaoui and Nasser Chabani, another Grombalia Sports player, were accused of hitting and insulting police officers, and of disturbing public order during a Ligue 2 match, which led to Issaoui spending a few months in prison.[2] In 2013, he signed for Tozeur, where he scores five goals.[3] That same year, he received interest from Club Africain, Etoile du Sahel de Sousse and CA Bizertin.[2] In 2014, Issaoui signed for Monastir.[4] He made eighteen appearances and scored one goal and recorded one assist for the club.[5] However, later that year, he was sent to train with the youth academy due to disciplinary issues.[6] In 2015, he signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Orobah.[7] After that, he signed for Gafsa in Tunisia, where he made seven appearances and scored one goal.[8]

International career

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In 2014, Issaoui received interest to be called up by the Tunisia national team.[9] However, he never played for the national team, which he claimed was due to his arrest record.[2]

Death

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On 13 April 2023, Issaoui died after setting himself on fire in what Issaoui said was a protest against Tunisia's “police state”.[10] During his funeral, demonstrators started throwing stones at police, who retaliated with tear gas.[11]

Personal life

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Issaoui had four children.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Qu'est-il resté de Nizar?". lapresse.tn. 16 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Retour sur le parcours de Nizar Issaoui". jeuneafrique.com. 19 April 2023.
  3. ^ "جريدة توزر ترفض تسريح " نزار العيساوي " لفريق سعودي مقابل 100 ألف دولار". tunisien.tn.
  4. ^ "Nizar Issaoui transféré à l'US Monastir". turess.com.
  5. ^ "la fin tragique de Nizar Issaoui". sportnewsafrica.com. 14 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Nizar Issaoui: Personne ne m'a demandé de reprendre l'entrainement". jawharafm.net.
  7. ^ "بعد تعاقده مع العروبة السعودي: نزار العيساوي يسجل في أول ظهور بقميص فريقه الجديد". hakaekonline.com. 11 December 2023.
  8. ^ "3 Fakta Nizar Issaoui". sport.tempo.co. 15 April 2023.
  9. ^ "" ليكينز " يستدعي " نزار العيساوي " للمنتخب". tunisien.tn.
  10. ^ "Tunisian footballer dies after setting himself on fire in 'police state' protest". The Observer. theguardian.com. Agence France-Presse. 15 April 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Nizar Issaoui: Protests at funeral of Tunisian footballer who set himself on fire". BBC News. 15 April 2023.
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