Football in Algeria

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Football in Algeria
CountryAlgeria
Governing body FAF
National team(s) Algeria
First played1894
Clubs+1000
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

Football in Algeria (soccer) is the country's most popular sport. [1] The country's top domestic league is organised into two national divisions, the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 2, overseen by the Algerian Football Federation.

Contents

History

Beginning

On 11 April 1882, during the French occupation of Algeria era, the first Algerian club was formed in Oran. L'Oranaise Club was founded by European settlers, it's one of the first clubs in all Africa continent [2] . On 5 February 1894, Club des Joyeusetés d'Oran, was founded in the neighborhood El-Derb of Oran. It was followed in the same year by the Club Athlétique Liberté d'Oran (CAL Oran), formed in 1897 by European settlers too in the neighborhood Saint-Antoine of Oran under the name Club Athlétique d'Oran. These are the first clubs in the country and the Maghreb. [3] Other clubs will follow later, and will be created in various cities including Oran.

In 1898 was created the first Muslim club, CS Constantine was born in Constantine under the name of IKBAL Emancipation. [4]

In 1911 the French Football Federation creates a North African Championship representing the third French division (honor league), which became an official competition in 1921 after creation in 1920 of the three regional leagues in Oran, Algiers and Constantine, the winner of each league qualify to a North African Championship.

After independence

The Algerian Football Federation was founded in 1963 in order to organise national competitions and international matches. The first national championship and the cup started immediately after independence in 1962.

Club football

LevelLeague(s) / Division(s)
1 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1
16 clubs
2 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 2
16 clubs
3 National – Group West
16 clubs		 National – Group Centre
16 clubs		 National – Group East
16 clubs
4 Inter-Régions – Group West
16 clubs		 Inter-Régions – Group Centre West
16 clubs		 Inter-Régions – Group Centre East
16 clubs		 Inter-Régions – Group East
16 clubs

List of football clubs in Algeria by major honours won

Before independence period (French Algeria)

Below is a list of football clubs in Algeria before independence. It contains all clubs that have played in different French Algerian leagues divisions before 1962, the independence year of Algeria. Most of the clubs that were founded by the European settlers were dissolved in 1962.

ClubRegional Leagues
(Algiers, Oran, Constantine)		AlgeriaNorth AfricaTotal
Champ.
(LA / LO / LC)		Cup
(FC / OC / CC)		CFAAC NACh NAC
SC Bel Abbès 15137228
GS Alger 92-4-15
CDJ Oran 7--1412
FC Blida 6--219
AS Saint Eugène 61-119
RU Alger 4--228
USM Oran 7----7
JAC Bône 5--1-6
AS Marine d'Oran 3-11-5
O. Hussein Dey 41---5
AS Boufarik 5----5
ESM Guelma 3--1-4
AS Bône 4----4
US Constantine 4----4
GC Oran 2--1-3
GS Orléansville 3----3
JS Guelma 3----3
RC Philippeville 3----3
USSC Témouchent 1---12
FC Oran 2----2
JS Djidjelli 2----2
MC Alger 2----2
MO Constantine 2----2
SO Sétif 2----2
USM Sétif 2----2
GS Perrégauloise --1--1
AC Bône 1----1
AS Marsa 1----1
CAL Oran 1----1
GC Mascara 1----1
JSM Philippeville 1----1
JS Philippeville 1----1
US Blida 1----1
USM Bône 1----1

After independence period (Algeria)

Below is a list of football clubs in Algeria. It contains all clubs that have played in different Algerian leagues divisions since 1962, the independence year of Algeria. However most of teams were founded before this year.


Club
AlgeriaMaghrebNorth AfricaArab WorldAfricaInter.Total
L C SC LC CC WC NC CC WC SC CC WC SC CL CCC SC WC CC AAC CWC
JS Kabylie 14511---------2-113--28
ES Sétif 882----1112--2-1--1-27
CR Belouizdad 109213---------------25
MC Alger 8831-2-------1------23
USM Alger 882-------1---11----21
MC Oran 44-1-------21-------12
WA Tlemcen -2--------1---------3
ASO Chlef 12------------------3
USM El Harrach 12------------------3
USM Bel Abbès -21-----------------3
CS Constantine 2-------------------2
NA Hussein Dey 11------------------2
Hamra Annaba 11------------------2
RC Kouba 1-1-----------------2
US Chaouia 1-1-----------------2
MO Constantine 1-------------------1
GC Mascara 1-------------------1
JSM Béjaïa -1------------------1
MO Béjaïa -1------------------1
CR Béni Thour -1------------------1
JH Djazaïr -1------------------1
MC Saïda -1------------------1

Non-CAF competition

The 1982 African Super Cup is a match which took place on January 25, 1982 during the Tournament of Fraternity in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. JS Kabylie won this trophy against the Cameroonians of Union Douala. [5] The newspaper France Football commented on this event of the birth of the brand new African Super Cup. [6]

Legends
AlgeriaL Algerian Ligue 1
C Algerian Cup
SC Algerian Super Cup
LC Algerian League Cup
MaghrebCC Maghreb Champions Cup
WC Maghreb Cup Winners Cup
North AfricaNC UNAF Club Cup
CC North African Cup of Champions
WC North African Cup Winners Cup
SC North African Super Cup
Arab WorldCC Arab Club Championship
WC Arab Cup Winners' Cup
SC Arab Super Cup
AfricaCL CAF Champions League
CCC CAF Confederation Cup
SC CAF Super Cup
WC African Cup Winners' Cup
CC CAF Cup
Inter-continentalAAC Afro-Asian Club Championship
CWC FIFA Club World Cup

National teams

FLN team

In 1958, a representative selection of Algeria's National Team (FLN football team) is secretly created by the National Liberation Front (FLN) to serve the cause of Algeria. [7] it is composed essentially of professional players who play in the French league such Rachid Mekhloufi. The team played its first international game in a group test before its creation in 1957 in Tunis against Tunisia. Its played several friendly matches with high level national teams and clubs.

Algeria national team

After independence in 1962, Algeria's national team replace the FLN football team. This team saw its period of greatest success in the 1980s with great players such Lakhdar Belloumi, Rabah Madjer, Salah Assad. Algeria qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1982 and 1986, 2010 and 2014 and qualified to second round in 2014 World Cup after defeating 4-2 South Korea and 1-1 drawing with Russia. The team was eliminated by Germany, crowned as champions by a 2–1 score at extra time.

During the 1982 tournament, Algeria managed a surprise defeat of West Germany in their first ever World Cup game and thus became the first African team to defeat European opposition at the World Cup, but were eliminated after the so-called "Shame of Gijón". [8] [9]

Due to Algeria's historic ties with France, there have been a number of Algerian players playing professionally in the French leagues, while the France national team has included players of Algerian heritage, most notably Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri. [10]

Future for the Algerians Program

Clubs

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algeria national football team</span> Mens association football team

The Algeria national football team represents Algeria in men's international football, and is governed by the Algerian Football Federation. The team plays their home matches at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers and Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran. Algeria joined FIFA on 1 January 1964, a year and a half after gaining independence. They are the current champions of the FIFA Arab Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algerian Cup</span> Football tournament

The Algerian Cup also known the Republic Cup, is a football competition in Algeria, pitting regional teams against each other. It was established in October 1962, three months after independence, and has been played yearly since then apart from 1990 and 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASM Oran</span> Algerian football club

Association Sportive Madinet d'Oran, known as ASM Oran or ASMO for short, is an Algerian football club based in Oran and founded in 1933. The club colours are green and white. Their home stadium, Habib Bouakeul Stadium, has a capacity of 15,000 spectators. The club plays in the Algerian Ligue 2. The club was famous for its youth program, which has produced many Algerian talents over the years. Because of this, the club is nicknamed El-Madrassa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USM Alger</span> Algerian association football club

Union Sportive de la Médina d'Alger ; known as USM Alger or simply USMA for short, is a football club based in the inner suburbs of Algiers. The club was founded in 1937 and its colours are red and black. Their home stadium, Omar Hamadi Stadium, has a capacity of 10,000 spectators. The club is currently playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JS Kabylie</span> Association football club in Algeria

Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie, known as JS Kabylie or JSK, is an Algerian professional football club based in Tizi Ouzou, Kabylia. The club is named after the cultural, natural and historical region that is home to the Kabyle Berber people speaking Kabyle. The club was founded in 1946 and its colours are yellow and green. The club currently plays in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Oran</span> Association football club in Algeria

Mouloudia Club of Oran, known as Mouloudia of Oran, commonly referred to as MC Oran for short, is an Algerian professional football club based in Oran. Founded on 1 January 1917 and formed again on 14 May 1946, the club was known as Mouloudia Chaâbia Ouahrania from 1971 to 1977, Mouloudia Pétroliers d'Oran from 1977 to 1987 and Mouloudia d'Oran from 1987 to 1989. The club colours are red and white. Their home stadium, Ahmed Zabana Stadium, has a capacity of 40,000 spectators. The club is currently playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CS Constantine</span> Algerian football club

Club Sportif Constantinois, also known as CS Constantine or simply CSC for short, is an Algerian football club based in Constantine, Algeria. The club was founded in 1898, and its colours are green and black. Their home stadium, Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium, has a capacity of 22,968 spectators. The club is currently playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CR Belouizdad</span> Algerian association football club

Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad ; known as CR Belouizdad or simply CRB for short, is an Algerian association football club based in Algiers, Algeria, that plays in the Ligue Professionnelle 1, the top flight of Algerian football. The club has competed in the top division for a record 55 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tedj Bensaoula</span> Algerian footballer and manager

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1</span> Professional association football league in Algeria

The Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, known as Championnat National de Première Division or Ligue 1 for short, and formerly known as the Championnat National 1, is the Algerian professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the Algerian football league system. Administered by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, it is contested by 16 clubs, with the two lowest-placed teams at the end of each season being relegated to the Ligue 2 and replaced by the top two teams in that division. In 2009 it was known as Championnat d'Algérie D1 Nedjma and from 2010 to 2014, it was known as Ligue Professionnelle 1 Nedjma as it is sponsored by Kuwaiti telecommunications company Nedjma. From 2014, the league is officially known as Ligue Professionnelle 1 Mobilis as it is sponsored by Algerian telecommunications company Mobilis.

The North African Cup is an old football competition organized in North Africa since 1930. It was dissolved after the 1956 edition, due to the independence of Morocco and Tunisia. After the independence of Morocco and Tunisia from France, three Algerian leagues remained participating in the cup, Algiers, Constantine and Oran.

The Algerian Super Cup is an Algerian football competition, held as a game between the reigning champions of the Algerian League and the Algerian Cup. The first edition was held in 1981 and then again in 1992, 1994 and 1995 before being scrapped. The game returned in 2006 but would be scrapped again after the 2007 edition, returning once again in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GC Mascara</span> Algerian football club

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Sport in Algeria dates back to antiquity. In the Aurès Mountains, people played games such as El Kherdba or El khergueba. Playing cards, checkers and chess games are part of Algerian culture. Horse racing (fantasia) and rifle shooting are among the recreational traditions of Algeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RCG Oran</span> Algerian football club

Raed Chabab Gharb d'Oran, or simply RCG Oran, is an Algerian professional soccer club based in Oran. The club was founded in 1947and its colours are black and red. Their home stadium, BLahouari Benahmed Stadium, has a capacity of 10,000 spectators. The club is currently playing in the Ligue Régional I.

The 2014–15 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 was the 53rd season of the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 since its establishment in 1962. A total of 16 teams contested the league, with USM Alger as the defending champions. Following the death of Albert Ebossé Bodjongo, the Algerian Football Federation suspended all football indefinitely. The league resumed on Week 3 starting 12 September 2014, with all matches on that week were preceded with a minute silence in memory of Ebossé.

Club de Derb Jeunesse d'Oran, known as CDJ Oran or simply CDJ for a short is an Algerian multisports club founded in 1894 in Oran and play in the Ligue of Oran - Group B. It's the oldest omnisports club in Algeria and North Africa. The club colours are blue and black. The CDJ is also the first club to win the North African Football Cup in 1930–31.

Kaddour Bekhloufi was a professional footballer who played as a forward and also as a defender. He played international football for FLN football team and Algeria.

The MC Oran–USM Alger rivalry is a football rivalry between Oran-based MC Oran and USM Alger of Algiers. The two teams have a total of 31 titles from the Ligue Professionnelle 1, Algerian Cup, League Cup and Super Cup at the local level, Regionally the Arab Champions League, the Arab Cup Winners' Cup and the Arab Super Cup, both of which do not have continental titles and the best participation was the final of the CAF Champions League once for each club.

References

  1. ↑ "Sports in Algeria". Africa Profile. 2006. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  2. ↑ "L'Oranaise (1882-1932), le cinquantenaire de la doyenne de nos sociétés Nord-Africaines". L'Écho d'Oran. 1932-04-11.
  3. ↑ "Club de football d'Oran". footballogue.com. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  4. ↑ "L'histoire du Club Sportif Constantinois". Constantine: CS Constantine website. 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  5. ↑ "Tournament of Fraternity 1982". Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "SI ! La JSK a gagné la Supercoupe d'Afrique". 25 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Dale, Penny (January 7, 2017). "How football helped Algeria's liberation movement" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. ↑ "World Cup Tales: The Shame Of Gijon, 1982". London: twohundredpercent. 9 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  9. ↑ "The day in 1982 when the world wept for Algeria". London: The Guardian. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  10. ↑ "For Algeria, football remains a fault line with France". America.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
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