Ould Mata received his first call-up to the Algerian national team in April 2001, to take part in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal. This was due to his good form for his club CR Belouizdad which did not go unnoticed by the national team coaches Hamid Zouba and Kermali.[2] Ould Mata did not take part in the game as he remained on the bench, Algeria lost the game with the final score being 3–0.[3][4]