Championnat national de football, 2008 - 2009

[Al-khiyal]

ES Setif on course for Algerian title

March 1, 2009 -- Algeria's ES Setif once again showed their determination to take the football title on Thursday (February 26th), when a 90th-minute equaliser dashed USM Annaba's hopes of taking the long-unbeaten leaders down a peg.

ES Setif are six points ahead of nearest rivals JSM Bejaia and CA Bordj Bou Arreridj, who are tied at 32 points after both notched up wins. Bejaia earned a narrow 1-0 victory over last-ranked USM Blida, while CABBA beat RC Kouba 2-1.

Kouba manager Christian Dalger had hoped for a draw. "We were caught off guard and my team was thrown into disarray by a home side that was confident and under no pressure," he said. "We're not unduly worried by this setback, especially since it came in an away match against a strong side. Now we need to win our next match against Chlef to keep ourselves from slipping to the bottom of the table."

RC Kouba have 18 points, just one ahead of league-trailing USM Blida.

JS Kabylie earned a 1-1 draw on the road against AS Khroub. The result didn't satisfy the JSK leadership, who expected a win after their squad held a lead for much of the game.

"We definitely deserved to win the match, but we slipped up in the final moments," manager Jean-Christian Lang said. "It could have ended differently if we'd been sharper in front of the goal."

JSK are now in fourth place alongside ASO Chlef. AS Khroub are in the middle of the pack, sharing eighth place with MC Algiers, NA Hussein Dey and MC El Eulma.

USM El Harrach managed a goalless draw against ASO Chlef, who have earned a reputation for being unbeatable at home.

USM Algiers returned to top form in an Algiers derby against CR Belouizdad, racking up a 2-1 win. Manager Kamel Mouassa said the victory restored the team's morale. "Although we had to wait right until the end of the match to take the three points for the win, we had plenty of earlier opportunities to sew up the match. We were only occasionally threatened by CRB, who were on the defensive, and it was merely our inability to strike a decisive blow that delayed the final result."

CRB manager Mohamed Hankouche said that the sending-off of Khalil Boukedjane was a major factor in his team's defeat. "We got off to a good start in the match. Despite conceding a goal, we recovered at the right time by equalising and raised our game. Unfortunately the wind was really taken out of our sails when Boukedjane was sent off," he said.

MC Algiers also had a tough time, losing 2-1 to MC El Eulma. MCA leadership believed their side deserved a better outcome. Manager Henri Michel said the team should have earned at least one point for a draw at home. "We were actually ahead at a crucial point in the game and could have held on, but when El Eulma equalised I think the players lost their concentration," he said.

NA Hussein Dey (NAHD) defeated MC Saida 1-0. After the match, NAHD manager Nour Benzekri said that the win ought to lift his team's spirits. "This is an important win for team morale. I hope [it] will give us the impetus we need to achieve more results like it," he concluded.

MC Saida coach Sadi Mechiche said a draw would have been a fair result. "We played just as well as NAHD. We lost on a free kick. It's tough, but that's football. We've got to keep trying to get ourselves out of our predicament."

MC Saida is currently third from the bottom with 20 points.

[Al-khiyal]

Former France keeper Castaneda to coach CS Constantine

March 6, 2009 -- Former French goalkeeper Jean Castaneda has been appointed coach of Algeria's CS Constantine, the club has said.

Castaneda won nine caps and played at St Etienne and Olympique Marseille. His coaching career has been more modest with jobs at Istres and in Qatar.

Constantine were Algerian champions in 1997 but have dropped down to the second division in the north African country.

[Al-khiyal]

La FIFA menace de sanctionner le CABBA

Samedi 7 Mars 2009 -- Le CA Bordj Bou Arreridj (CABBA), club de division Une du championnat national de football, risque la relégation. La cause ? La Fédération internationale de football (FIFA) menace de sanctionner cette équipe pour non respect des contrats signés avec deux joueurs camerounais, a indiqué samedi la Fédération algérienne de football (FAF) sur son site internet. La FIFA ordonne au CABBA de régulariser la situation financière des deux joueurs, Essomba Steve Harice Boko et Amabassa Guy Paulin, recrutés durant le mercato d'hiver. Le CABBA risque, outre la défalcation des points, la relégation en division inférieure. La FAF a demandé par ailleurs à l'ensemble des clubs de la DI employant des joueurs étrangers de veiller au strict respect des contrats.

[Al-khiyal]

ES Setif forced to share Algerian league lead

March 8, 2009 -- Algerian football league leaders ES Setif saw their winning streak come to an end Friday (March 6th) when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to USM Algiers in Round 21.

Before a large crowd, USM Algiers scored just seven minutes before the final whistle blew at the Bologhine ground in the capital. A corner taken by Amar Ammour ended up in the back of Setif's net, earning USMA three points against a side who had been expecting a draw.

The win put USMA in fifth alongside ASO Chlef and NA Hussein Dey with 29 points, and allowed JSM Bejaia to catch up to ES Setif. Both teams currently share the top spot with 38 points.

ESS, however, can catch up with a home game Monday against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj.

USMA manager Kamel Mouassa was delighted with his team's victory. "I have to admit I was very apprehensive before the match, because we were up against the leaders," he told journalists.

"We did find it difficult early on to get down to business and play our best, but later on the team gained confidence and began to take the game to their opponents... They gave their all trying to achieve this win, which I think they richly deserved," he said.

According to Setif manager Azzedine Ait Djoudi, the tide turned against his team in the second half after a fruitless opening period. Nevertheless, he was unfazed by the defeat. "Losing this game won't stop us from going for the title," he said, "and of course we still have a game in hand."

JSM Bejaia's comeback continued with their eleventh win of the season, against MC Saida, but the 1-0 match didn't end without a fight. Lamine Belkheir scored the lone goal in the 39th minute. Manager Jean-Yves Chay said the team has consolidated its position in the league table.

"We played a superb first half, rounded off by an excellent goal," he said. "In the second half the state of the pitch worsened steadily due to the rain, and that held us back somewhat. The main thing for us was to get the win we needed to consolidate our position in the table, and that's exactly what we did."

Sadi Mechiche, MC Saida manager, accepted the defeat. "My players, who should be congratulated, have nothing to be ashamed of. They gave it their all, especially during the second half. Our opponents were able to take advantage of our mistakes in defence, particularly in the first half," he said.

Third-ranked CA Bordj Bou Arreridj managed a 1-0 win over next-to-last USM Blida.

The stumble by ES Setif also greatly helped JS Kabylie, who are now within striking range of the leaders after a successful but eventful encounter Thursday with USM Annaba. Disgusted with their team's weak performance during the 1-0 loss, Annaba fans began throwing missiles at the JSK players and staff. Manager Jean-Christian Lang was taken to hospital after a rocket exploded, but later returned to the match.

"I wasn't hit, but a rocket exploded right in front of me," Lang told journalists. "I lost consciousness... It was therefore decided I should be taken to the nearest hospital to get checked over."

Lang lamented the show of bad behaviour: "I can't understand the violence that goes on at Algerian football stadiums nowadays. Football matches are sport and nothing more. Violence doesn't get anyone anywhere. This problem is going to poison football."

The win put JSK in fourth with 34 points, giving them a chance of taking the lead should Setif slip up again.

In other matches, NA Hussein Day defeated ASO Chlef 1-0, and CR Belouizdad finally racked up a win against MSP Batna after three unsuccessful outings. MC Algiers redeemed themselves after Monday's 2-2 draw against NAHD by taking a point against AS El Khroub in a goalless draw. USM El Harrach also tied 2-2 on the road against MC El Eulma.

[Al-khiyal]

La FIFA menace de sanctionner le CABBA

FIFA threatens CABBA with sanctions

March 8, 2009 -- FIFA is threatening sanctions against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj for breaching the contracts of two Cameroonian players, the Algerian Football Federation said Saturday (March 7th) on its website. If CABBA fail to settle the financial situation of Steve Harice Essomba Boko and Amabassa Guy Paulin – both recruited during the winter mercato - they could face deduction of points and relegation to the lower division. FAF called on all D1 clubs to comply with the contracts of their foreign players.

[Al-khiyal]

USMAn penalised with closed-door matches

March 9, 2009 -- The Algerian football league's disciplinary committee punished USM Annaba with two closed-door matches over fan violence, local press reported on Monday (March 9th). Angered by their club's 1-0 loss to JSK in a Day 21 match, USMAn supporters threw missiles at JSK players and staff. The Kabyles' coach, Jean-Christian Lang, had to be taken to a nearby hospital after a rocket exploded.

In other D1 news, USM Blida coach Saïd Hammouche submitted his resignation on Sunday (March 8th).

[Al-khiyal]

CABBA players allegedly assaulted at ESS match

March 10, 2009 -- Algeria D1 football clubs CA Bordj Bou Arreridj and hosts ES Setif never played their scheduled match Monday evening because CABBA players were allegedly assaulted upon arrival by Setif stadium attendants, APS reported on Tuesday (March 10th). According to CABBA President Salah Bouda, players Merouane Kial, Abderrahmane Hachoud and Ali Houari were wounded. Houari reportedly suffered a knife injury.