As gaming culture in the Middle East has risen, so too has the popularity of creators like Ali Mousa. Mousa, known as Abu Srwal, is a prominent collaborator with EA Sports FC Mobile and has built a large following thanks to his gaming skits, tips and commentary, all heavily immersed in the world of football.

The App Store Editors spoke to him about becoming a huge FC Mobile fan and asked him to share his top tips for success in the game.

Mousa first came across FC Mobile during a tournament he was participating in, immediately falling in love with the game. As playing it evolved into a daily passion, he realised this could be more than just a hobby. “The game provides a perfect environment for building a spirit of challenge and competition between friends and other users across the community,” he tells us.

Watch Mousa play FC Mobile today and you’ll likely notice how controlled and calm his gameplay is, but getting there took a lot of practice and an understanding that success doesn’t necessarily come from flashy plays, but rather direct and clinical technique. “I prioritise staying composed and making sure I don’t waste the chances I need.”

Mousa isn’t afraid of a little competition to improve his game and will intentionally seek out the toughest players in a match. “Sometimes, I’ll even start a practice match by scoring an own goal on purpose. It forces me to play under extreme pressure from the very beginning!”

Even the best players have to take the losses, and in FC Mobile it’s no different. “I’ve lost matches by a single goal where it felt like my opponent had all the luck – hitting the crossbar, missing clear breakaways or the other goalkeeper making insane saves. Those moments taught me the importance of being more clinical and disciplined,” Mousa says.

So how does Mousa continue to evolve his game? “It comes down to consistent practice. I play between 10 to 15 ranked matches every single day to stay sharp.“

Want to master FC Mobile? Take a lesson from one of the best and try Mousa’s top tips:

• Notice what habits aren’t working in your game and change them. For example, Mousa says he used to rely heavily on a defensive 5–4–1 formation, but to become a stronger player he switched to mastering an attacking 4–3–3 instead.
• When the match is tight, maintain possession. The more you hold the ball, the more frustrated and impulsive your opponents become. When they lose their patience, they lose their defensive shape – that’s when they give the ball away.
• When an opponent sits deeps and parks the bus (defends with everyone), rely on quick passing combinations (specifically building triangles) to pull defenders out of position. Then use your highly skilled players to find the pockets of space to break through their lines.
• To go from being a high-skilled to a pro player you need to focus on technical mastery. Configure the right Skill Moves under Team Settings. Stretch the play to the wings to open up central lanes and make sudden changes to your play to keep opponents off balance.
• If you need more confidence to play competitively, focus on building your squad; pick the right players from live events and use your Gems wisely. Master a few powerful Skill Moves and don’t be afraid to play offensively.