Abdullah Nabil Photographs His Way Into Egypt's Premier League

A photograph from an October 16 match between Ismaily and Seka El Hadid showed sports photographer Abdullah Nabil sitting on the ground, camera in hand and completely focused on the action.

The image drew attention to the man behind the lens, who has spent the past two years working his way through Egyptian football.

Nabil was born on May 9, 1998, and grew up in Cairo’s Matariya district. Born with a difference affecting his right hand and with short stature, he initially pursued design and graphic arts before discovering sports photography.

A history graduate from Ain Shams University’s Faculty of Arts, Nabil began professionally photographing Egypt’s second- and third-division leagues in 2024. He reached the Premier League two years later.

"I had the passion and the desire to become a photographer, but there were physical and financial difficulties, and I lacked sufficient experience. However, the encouragement of those around me, especially my family, pushed me to work in this field,” Nabil says.

Working independently brings its own challenges, particularly when travelling to distant stadiums or securing permits to access certain venues.

"The most difficult matches for me are those played at distant stadiums because of the difficulty of getting there, as well as venues that require special permits from the Clubs Association, since I work independently," he says.

Nabil has also expanded his work beyond football, photographing Egypt’s national handball team for the first time during their match against Angola in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

His next ambition is to join the official photography team for Egypt’s national football team.

Photography is still not a full-time job. Nabil buys his own equipment, which comes at a significant cost, and takes additional freelance work to support himself.

"I was raised believing there is no such thing as 'I can’t.' I keep trying, and, by God’s grace, support comes along and the steps keep falling into place. Photography is still a passion rather than a full-time job. I try to find additional freelance work, although it is irregular, and I hope to establish a steady source of income."

"I buy my own equipment, which is extremely expensive, and I hope to upgrade my gear in the future."