Algerian football origins (1897–1962) The history of football in Algeria is closely linked to the French football. When football appeared in France in the year 1872, it appeared in its turn naturally around 1894 in
North Africa, a region of the world subject to French authority. The first clubs were founded in
Oran,
CDJ Oran (Club des Joyeuseté) was founded on 14 April 1894, this club created its football section on 10 July 1897. The second club CAL Oran (Club Athlétique Liberté Oranais) was founded with his football section on 28 September 1897 under the name of Club Athlétique Oranais. As a result, football was progressively developed in the
French Algeria for more than half a century with the creation of a large number of clubs but also organizations that governed its practice in departmental and inter-regional competitions. Then it came to an end in the year 1962, when Algeria became the last territory in North Africa to abandon French rule and thus saw the end of colonial French football.
The Division Honneur 1963–1964, Second edition of the championship The championship is once again modified during the season
1963–1964. After a very complex competition season regional tournaments organized on a system comprising several groups, with some cases a regional final and a final tournament designating the first champion of Algeria; Algerian football leaders managed to reach a certain elite. Most teams that participated in the competition last season are grouped into three regional divisions. The championship then took the name of ephemeral
DH, the "Honor Division". Unlike the previous season, instead of many individual groups composed three regions or regional football leagues, only one group per region was implemented. (now
Hamra Annaba, winner of Second championship football in Algeria The
1963–1964 season. Following these regional championships, for the Western region or West Division Honneur, the
ASM Oran was crowned regional champion after a final victory two goals to one against his rival of
Oran on
MC Oran and qualified for the national tournament with striker Abdelkader Reguig surnamed Pons. For the Central Region or Division Honneur Center, the
NA Hussein Dey cap on the pole on the final day its direct rival, the
CR Belcourt thanks to their goalkeeper Amirat, Senior contributor to the qualification of its team in the national tournament, annihilating attempts playmaker chabibiste
Hacène Lalmas. As for the East region or Eastern Division Honneur is even the
USM Annaba former
USM Bone winner of the group I qualified for the second consecutive year the final tournament with his player coach Mohamed Boufermès. She beats the departmental final
MSP Batna winner of Group II. This time the three were regional champions met in
Constantine to determine who will win the second title. As the edition takes place in this city, it was decided that the fourth team to accompany the three champions, the dolphin would be the Honorary Division of the League of Constantine, the
MSP Batna. After the competition, the
USM Annaba winner in the semi-finals of the
ASM Oran), will be needed in the final against
NA Hussein Dey (winner of him
MSP Batna), a score of one goal to nil. This is to date the first and only league title usmistes of
Annaba.
National Division One or Division One, the national elite After two competitive seasons in the form of regional tournaments with a final national tournament, the
Algerian Football Federation reorganized once again the championship. This time she opted during the season
1964-1965 to create a national championship to direct confrontation between the sixteen best teams of the three regional leagues of Algerian football. For this, she referred the results of last season including the first five of each of the regional leagues and more regional champion of the season. So we had for the Western region or League Oranie the first five teams (the
ASM Oran the
MC Oran, the
ES Mostaganem the
MC Saida and
JSM Tiaret) to the center of Algiers region or League again the first five teams (the
CR Belouizdad the
NA Hussein Dey, the
USM Blida the
MC Algiers and
USM Alger) and the Eastern region or Constantine League champion last season the
USM Annaba and the following five of the ranking of this region (the
MSP Batna, the
ES Guelma, the
ES Sétif, the
USM Setif and
MO Constantine). •
Different formulas of the first division. Domination CR Belouizdad (4 titles) – (1965–1971) that made the heyday of
CR Belouizdad between
1962–1963 and
1972–1973 seasons. The
CR Belcourt (later
CR Belouizdad) is a new club at this time, from the district of
Belcourt to
Algiers which will be renamed
Belouizdad. This club was born from the merger of two former clubs from the same district,
WRB (Widad Riadhi Belcourt) and the
CAB (Club Athéltique Belcourt). These two former clubs were known for playing football competitions in the French colonial era, for both affiliated to the
FFFA (
French Football Federation Association) and
LAFA (
League Algiers Football Association). In the sixties, this team has dominated the national football by winning no fewer than four titles between seasons
1964–1965 and
1970–1971. She realized the performance to make two doubles championships in seasons
1964–1965 –
1965–1966, then during the season
1968–1969 –
1969–1970. This team, led by Yahia Ahmed Saadi and then Arab Zitoun, was composed of the best players representing the backbone of the Algerian selection apart from those from the French colonial clubs such Hamiti of
Racing Universitaire d'Alger or Djemaâ of
Gallia Sport Algiers. This talented team was distinguished in all competitions in both
Algeria at
Maghreb (with the gain of three
Maghreb Champions Cup consecutive winning). His two main rivals were the
ES Sétif Salhi of brothers, who managed to grab the title of the season
1967–1968 and
MC Oran who won his first trophy in the season
1970-1971, with the generation Fréha – Hadefi, having narrowly missed the season
1968–1969; and especially that of the season
1967–1968 (dolphin of the
ES Sétif but ahead of the
CR Belouizdad third in the ranking).
Rivalry: MC Alger (5 titles) – JS Kabylie (4 titles) – (1972–1980) The seventies marked the takeover of
MC Algiers, though not everything was simple. The club experienced its first relegation before that, partly due to serious events that occurred in the season
1964–1965 against the
MC Oran. It took three years at the club to regain the first division and a good staff; but this absence was perhaps beneficial, with the winning five league titles Algeria. The team, managed by the duo of Khabatou Zouba and coaches, will succeed even to achieve the feat twice during championship seasons
1974–1975 and
1975–1976. However the most resounding achievement of this decade for this team occurred when the season
1975–1976. Indeed, that season, the
MC Algiers succeeds tripled
Algeria Championship –
Algerian Cup –
African Cup of Champion Clubs', which is unique in the Algerian football. who won the treble
African Cup –
Championship –
Algerian Cup at the end of the season
1975–1976. The dominance of this team of
MC Algiers will still be contested by the
JS Kabylie, which succeed in this decade to glean four league titles Algeria. This team which reached the generation of
Mouloud Iboud, captain for nearly nine years, was nicknamed "steamroller" as she won victories. The club will also be the second after the
CR Belouizdad and just before the
MC Algiers to realize a double championship in seasons
1972–1973 and
1973–1974, and a double
Algerian Cup –
of Algerian Football Championship when the season
1976–1977. Unlike other teams in the championship, it will be one of the first formations to experiment, after the passage of the former Goalkeeper of the
FLN football team,
Abderrahmane Boubekeur, several foreign coaches. The team was managed by the French Jean Lemaître (season
1970–1971), Christian Banjou (midseason
1974–1975 and midseason
1975–1976), but also by the Yugoslav Jouan Cestic (season
1973-1974),
Hungarian André Nagy (mid-season
1976–1977) and
Romanians with the duo first
Virgil Popescu and
Petre Mândru (season
1972–1973 year of the first title), then
Bazil Marian (during the season
1973–1974). The most famous of these early foreign coaches is probably the Polish
Stefan Zywotko, which formed at the end of this decade a duet with
Mahieddine Khalef that will last nearly twelve years. During that decade, a sports reform was held by the
Ministry of Youth and Sports precisely in the season
1975–1976, to give the elite clubs a good financial base in order to empower them to structure themselves in a professional manner (
ASP Sports Association Performance '). The aim was therefore they have full autonomy management with the creation of their own training center. For that many clubs had to sacrifice their names and rename them after the main sponsor. It was thus possible to see in some clubs names letter Promoted oil of
Sonatrach sponsor the
MC Alger on
MC Oran and
ES Sétif, renamed MP Algiers, MP Oran and EP Setif. Similarly, the
Sonelgaz, with the '' 'K' '' of Kahraba (gas), sponsorisa the
JS Kabylie, which gave its name to
JS Kabylie in Jamiat Sari ' Kawkabi or the
USM Alger, famous USK Algiers. But also CNAN (
Compagnie National Algérienne de Navigation) with the
M of Milaha (browser) that sponsorisa the
Nasr Hussein Dey Athletic became Milaha Athletic Hussein Dey and many other more. Although for some time it will have allowed these clubs to form themselves into genuine independent sports clubs with the example of
Mouloudia of Algiers, which flew past and continues to dominate sports competitions in other disciplines as football, it will fail because the clubs gradually resume in the following years their original names and démarcheront themselves many sponsors at a time.
Hegemony JS Kabylie (6 titles) – (1981–1990) , the famous
Jumbo JET in the season
1985-1986 From Left to Right: Stand Up : Larbes – Adghigh – Amara – Heffaf – Sadmi – Belahcène
Sitting Bahbouh – Menad – Fergani – Abdeslam – Bouiche in the 1978–79 season – with
From Left to Right: Stand Up : Benmimoun - Sebaa - Baroudi - Benmahi - Bentis - Hadefi
Sitting B. Chaïb - Bensaoula - Belloumi - Benkadda - Kechra Champion Algeria
1986–1987 African champion in
1988 with
From Left to Right: Stand Up : Serrar – Boulehdjilet – Osmani – Nabti – Zorgane – Bernaoui
Sitting Bendjabellah – Rahmani – Adjissa – Gharib – Adjass The eighties saw two qualifications of the
Algerian National Team in the
World Cup but also several good results of its clubs internationally. Nationally, a club comes off the lot: the
JS Kabylie (JSK), Jeunesse Électronique de Tizi-Ouzou (JET). During this decade,
JE Tizi-Ouzou was in a dominant position. As this team, managed by the duo of coaches the Polish
Stefan Zywotko and
Mahieddine Khalef's Algerian dominant football of his time, both nationally and internationally. She never ceased to break records, by raking in ten years no less than six titles of "Champion of Algeria," also gleaning in passing three cups of Algeria, winning two titles of champion of Africa and one African Super Cup, hence its nickname of "Jumbo Jet" characterizing the greatness of this team. His hold on the championship as it was reached outside of these six titles, twice the second place in the season
1980–1981 and
1987–1988 and a third place in the season
1983–1984, nine times in ten years on the podium . The peculiarity of these titles is that they were won three times twice, i.e. by producing doubled in the league and therefore obtaining the status of "double champion" in seasons
1981–1982 –
1982–1983 and
1984–1985 –
1985–1986, and then
1988–1989 –
1989–1990. During his victories in that decade, the
JE Tizi-Ouzou made two doubled
African Cup – Algerian Championship during the season
1980-1981 and
1989–1990, and his second double
Algerian Cup – Algerian Championship in the season
1985–1986. It is also during this season that the team realized a record total at year end ninety-eight points on the board, in thirty-eight games (in a championship consists of twenty teams). This hegemony will still be slightly challenged by the
MC Oran named MP Oran, who was at that time only rival figure of
JE Tizi-Ouzou, removing his second championship when the season
1987–1988. With this title she will stand in the next season
African Cup of Champions Clubs, losing the final against the Moroccan
WA Casablanca. Besides this achievement of African weapons, Mouloudia Oran finish second in the championship three times in the season
1984–1985,
1986–1987 and
1989–1990. Consecration of the beautiful can also emphasize
GC Mascara, a pioneer of Algerian football club, one of the few to win a championship in the French colonial era (since affiliated with the
Lofa Oran Football League Association'), who won the championship at the end of the season
1983–1984. Note also the performance of the
RC Kouba, named at that time RS Kouba who won his first championship (the only one to date) in the season
1980–1981, after finishing second in the season
1966–1967 and
1974–1975. The last team to win a championship in this decade, apart from
JE Tizi-Ouzou, is the
ES Sétif, which then bore the name of EP Setif. She won her second championship during the season
1986–1987, which will allow him the following season to participate in the
African Cup of Champions Clubs won the Nigerian side of the
Iwuanyanwu National.
MC Oran (2 titles) and other – (1991–1999) Algerian football knows at this time the consecration of his
national team with the gain of two major titles, the
Africa Cup of Nations during
1990, organized its territory and Intercontinental Cup the following year, the late
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations. Nationally no uncontested leadership emerges in this decade as was the case in previous decades to the
CR Belouizdad on
MC Algiers or
JS Kabylie. However, if we were to hold a team that would be beyond dispute that the
MC Oran. The "Hamroua" as they are nicknamed are the only ones in this decade to win the largest number of shares, or acquired in two seasons
1991–1992 and
1992–1993. This is the fourth club to achieve a championship doubled after
CR Belouizdad, the
JS Kabylie and
MC Algiers. This marks a clear difference between the other competitors at this time is in addition to its two league titles, the
MC Oran finished in second place in the championship three consecutive times during the season
1994–1995,
1995–1996 and
1996–1997. Let's mention the great performance of this team competing in Arabic because it was involved in the defunct
Arab Cup Winners' Cup. Indeed, after his victory in the final of the
Algerian Cup face the
USM Blida after editing
1996, the
MC Oran chooses to participate in the Arab competition she won two times consecutively in
1997 and
1998, and even win the
Arab Super Cup the following year. Apart from winning the championship regulars like
JS Kabylie who distinguished himself during the season
1994-1995 by a third doubled
African Cup – Championship with obtaining the
African Cup Winners' Cup; of the
USM Alger who finally won his second league title (expected for the season
1962–1963) the following year when the season
1995–1996 and the
MC Algiers who won his sixth championship in the season
1994–1995; This decade marks a first achievement for several teams. So the club
Constantine on
MO Constantine, also pioneer club championship of Algeria, who was one of the few during the French colonial era to win a championship (because affiliated with the
LCFA the
Constantine Football League Association), and finally also won its first championship of Algeria during the season
1991–1992, after finishing second in the season
1971–1972 and
1973–1974 . His rival Constantine, the
CS Constantine will do the same in the season
1996–1997. Note the strong performance of the
US Chaouia, the second club of "Berber" ethnic group after the
JS Kabylie that wins a championship, this is their first title. Finally the
USM El Harrach, another Algerian club, which also finally won a championship when the season
1997–1998, after finishing second in the season
1983–1984 and
1991–1992. During this decade, reform
MJS (
Ministry of Youth and Sports), adopted at the season
1976–1977 is finally abandoned, leaving the clubs resume their previous names. Another important fact, the championship was reorganized into two groups of eight teams in the season
1997–1998, and then into two pools of fourteen participants in the season
1998–1999. This formula therefore included "play-off" when the two leaders of these groups at the end of the competition fought for the title of champion of winning. The edition of
1998–1999 even knew extensions between
MC Algiers and
JS Kabylie which saw the Mouloudia a goal to win zero.
The years of alternation: USM Alger (3 titles), JS Kabylie (3 titles), CR Belouizdad (2 titles) (2000–2007) The championship has not experienced any real domination of a particular team over the two thousand years. However, there was a time when some teams alternately dominate each in turn. This is the case at the beginning of this decade
CR Belouizdad who won championships. The league title eluded the club for nearly thirty years, since the season
1969–1970. The Algerian team of the district of
Belouizdad so engrangea two more titles to his credit. They were earned during a doubled championship that is to say, consecutively, following the seasons
1999–2000 and
2000–2001. If at the beginning of this period we see the influence championship
CR Belouizdad, another team was manifested at the end of this decade, it is the
ES Sétif. This team will also win two championships in seasons acquired
2006–2007 and
2008–2009 each time to the detriment the
JS Kabylie. His titles allow him to enrich his record, a title of "champion of Algeria" she had not won since the season
1986–1987, almost twenty-one years. We must also add that it was distinguished in international competition by also winning two
Arab Champions League consecutively at Editions
2006–2007 and
2007–2008. Between these two teams or rather between these two periods, both teams stand out during this decade, it is the
USM Alger and
JS Kabylie. This team of
USM Alger enjoyed a golden generation symbolized by one player
Billel Dziri. This is the man in form this decade that allowed his teammates and his team to achieve so much achievement. The usmistes won the championship three times, including two consecutive seasons at
2001–2002 and
2002–2003 then
2004–2005. This is the fifth club to achieve a championship doubled after
CR Belouizdad, the
JS Kabylie on
MC Algiers and
MC Oran. If the team won three championships be warned it finishes in second place three times during the season also
2000–2001 (dolphin
CR Belouizdad ),
2003–2004 and
2005-2006 (dolphin
JS Kabylie). Note also gain three
Algerian Cup, one of which he won in a dubbed
Algerian Cup –
Algerian Championship during the season
2002-2003. With six titles in all competitions, it is clear that the
USM Alger dominated much domestic football of his time. However, this rule will not be unchallenged because another team will also like to see better, it is the
JS Kabylie. Like usmistes, canaries also won three championships in seasons
2003–2004,
2005–2006 and
2007–2008 and lacked a little cup double championship in the season
2003–2004 losing precisely the final of the
Algerian Cup against the
USM Alger. However apart from his three league titles, the
JS Kabylie finish second in the championship four times in the season
2001–2002 (dolphin
CR Belouizdad),
2004–2005 (dolphin of the
USM Alger)
2006–2007 and
2008–2009 (dolphin of the
ES Sétif). Added to this international performance, for three consecutive finals victories
African Cup. Indeed, at the beginning of this period,
JS Kabylie concerned by the African competition as engaged in
CAF Cup, forsook somewhat the championship to concentrate only on the African Cup. This will pay off because it will be needed when editing
1999–2000 face the Egyptians to the
Ismaily SC. Then come two more accolades in the same competition at Editions
2000–2001 Tunisians face of the
Étoile du Sahel and
2001–2002 face of Cameroonians
Tonnerre Yaoundé. With six titles acquired during that decade including three international, the
JS Kabylie so vied to great effect opposite to the
USM Alger. Note finally that at the end of the fifth decade of the championship in Algeria, the
MC Algiers is back in the winners of this competition, winning his seventh league title, after eleven years of absence.
The domination of ES Sétif (6 titles), the breakthrough of USM Alger (3 titles) (2007–2019) –
Ziaya –
Ze ondo –
Megateli –
Demmou –
Khedairia Sitting Djahnit –
Zerara –
Younes –
Lagraâ –
Belameiri. This period consisted of two appearances by the
national team in
FIFA World Cup, qualifying in the fourth round in the
World Cup 2014. This period is also that of the return of the
ES Sétif on the national and international level, with 5 titles in nine seasons, 9 podiums out of 9 possible (one second and three times third) and unprecedented participation by the Algerian club in
FIFA Club World Cup. Since 2007, the
ES Sétif has dominated the Algerian championship, the Cup team is therefore a distant memory, in fact, except for the
JS Kabylie successful with 11 consecutive podiums 6 consecrations between 1976 and 1986, no other team has so dominated the competition, domination of the
ES Sétif is all the more practical that the club won in addition to the five league titles Algerian two
Algerian Cup with the cup double / championship
2011-2012 (the second in the club's history after that achieved in season
1967-1968), and two consecutive league titles with the title of the season
2012-2013 after that of
2011-2012, the team also shone on the regional, continental and even global by becoming the first Algerian club in history to reach world cup of clubs when editing
2014 after winning
Champions League CAF 2014, the club went on winning the
African Super Cup in
2015. the
ES Sétif won a total of 14 titles in all competitions in just 9 years (a record). Given the dominance of the
ES Sétif no other club has been able to maintain the rivalry with Sétif for several seasons because each season brought her new batch of competitors who challenged the grip of the eagle Black highland on the championship, that's why the league has had 4 different winners in addition to
ES Sétif in nine seasons, these two clubs played the relegation prompted systematically or three seasons or even a single season after their coronation, was the case of
MC Alger sacred in
2010 and
USM Alger in
2014, both narrowly saved the season from the
JS Kabylie of its iconic president
Mohand Cherif Hannachi who managed the coronation in
2008 fled from relegation to one day of the end of the season
2010-2011 That said, the most successful club in Algeria still managed three podiums in addition to his coronation at that time, the club
ASO Chlef in holy
2011 and dolphin
2008 has meanwhile failed to maintain when the season
2014-2015, it is also the club where the
JSM Bejaia Double vice champion in Algeria
2011 and
2012, which met the same fate in the season
2013-2014. The phenomenon is partly explained by the fact that the champion of Algeria and the runner-up are called the next season to represent Algeria in the African champions league. This competition takes place mostly during the summer period, and is very costly in terms of energy, time and money, due to the nature of the African continent, whose climate, long distances between countries, and in some countries, lack of infrastructure both sporting and otherwise, are not always to the advantage of Algerian teams. the
ES Sétif is the only team not affected by the phenomenon
Dominance of CR Belouizdad (4 titles) (2020–2029) CR Belouizdad was crowned Algerian Ligue 1 champion for the
2021-2022 season at the end of May and before term, after its precious success against US Biskra (2-0), one day before the end of the championship. With this new coronation, the club achieves an unprecedented event in the history of Algerian football, winning the title for the third consecutive year (
2020,
2021,
2022). The
Chabab adds a ninth league title to its overall record, after those of 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 2000, 2001, 2020 and 2021.
CR Belouizdad won the
2022–23 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 and confirmed their continuing dominance of Algerian football since 2020 by clinching a historical fourth consecutive Algerian Ligue 1 title. it's their 10th title in their history. In 2024,
MC Alger won their 8th league title after 14 years. In 2025,
MC Alger retain his title and won their 9th league title. ==Qualification for CAF competitions==