The 2024–25 season, is USM Alger's 47th season and the club's 30th consecutive season in the top flight of Algerian football. In addition to the domestic league, USM Alger are participating in this season's editions of the Algerian Cup and the Confederation Cup. On June 27, 2024 The federal office approved the calendar for the 2024–25 Ligue 1 season with the aim of ending on May 31, 2025. The first round is scheduled for September 14, this delay is motivated both by an extended end of the 2023–24 season but also by the holding of early presidential elections which will take place on September 7, 2024.[4][5] However, the Ligue de Football Professionnel decided to postpone the start of the Ligue 1 by a week, on September 21.[6]
Review
Background
After great pressure from supporters demanding a radical change within the club’s administrative organization.[7] At the management level, the advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Réda Abdouch, submitted his resignation, justifying his decision by “personal and health reasons”, indicated the club.[8] Previously USM Alger announced the appointment of Sid Ali Yahiaoui as new general secretary. This is a homecoming for Yahiaoui, who had already held this position in the past with the club in 2021.[8] On June 22, 2024, The Board of Directors of USMA/SSPA met at the headquarters of the Groupe SERPORT, where it was decided to appoint Athmane Sehbane, Chairman of the Board of Directors of USM Alger, to succeed Kamel Hassena who resigned from his position.[1] Still in the same vein, SERPORT has chosen the former Rouge et Noir player, Hamza Koudri as sports coordinator while the former captain of L'USMA, Billel Dziri will occupy the position of sports director.[1] The next day, Othmane Sohbane appointed Mustapha Laroussi as secretary of the first team. Laroussi previously held this position in USM Alger.[9] Arriving in the baggage of the new president of the club, Dziri has already thrown in the towel as sports director of USMA.[10]
After the departure of Juan Carlos Garrido, USM Alger studied several avenues to find the successor of the Spanish technician.[2][3] In an official press release on July 13, USM Alger announced the signing of Tunisian coach Nabil Maâloul a contract of two seasons, Maâloul who has extensive experience in Africa will now have his first experience in Algeria.[2][3] Following urgent requests from certain clubs, the Algerian Football Federation has decided to increase the number of foreign players in the Ligue 1.[11] After having formally passed through the technical college chaired by Rabah Saâdane, the FAF ratified the increase in the number of foreigners per club from 3 to 5. However, that there is a provision intended to serve as a safeguard for the license of a foreign player or coach to be validated, the club must pay the federation a deposit equivalent to 12 months salary.[11] This is to protect against any financial dispute.[11] On August 5, 2024, USM Alger appointed former player Rabie Meftah as coach of the under-21 team. Meftah expressed his happiness to return to a club dear to him and start his new mission with the young players.[12]
Pre-season
After more than 40 days of rest, on July 26, USM Alger players return to training to begin their off-season preparation. The Tunisian technician have about a month and a half to properly prepare his team with a view to returning to official competition from September.[13] The resumption session is scheduled at the annex of Nelson Mandela Stadium, as revealed by Maâloul this stadium will be the team's new training camp this season. Soustara team will carry out the first cycle of preparation in Baraki for two weeks, where the technical staff will focus on the physical aspect.[13][14] On August 14, USM Alger set off for Annaba, from where it reach the Tunisian border town of Tabarka. A place chosen by the team's technical staff to hold the second stage of summer preparation, after a successful first training camp in Algiers under the orders of Maâloul. Les Rouge et Noir will play a few friendly matches against Tunisian opponents and those from other countries.[15][16] USM Alger play five friendly matches as part of its pre-competitive training camp in Tunisia, including four against Algerian teams, who are also there for their pre-season training camps, the Red and Black management announced in a press release.
On August 23, Secretary General Sid Ali Yahiaoui submitted his resignation due to a misunderstanding with the Chairman of the Board of Directors Athmane Sehbane, because of his repeated mistakes in filling out new player contracts. The management transferred the former member of the media cell Badreddine Jaafar to administrative duties along with the director of the general administration Mohamed Briki and the secretary Mustapha Laroussi.[17] On August 31, USMA completed a 16-day training camp in Tabarka, Tunisia, as part of its off-season preparation. This gathering, dedicated to the technical-tactical and organizational aspects, saw the team play 6 friendly matches: 3 against Algerian clubs, 2 against Tunisian clubs and one match against a Libyan club.[18]
Before Kamel Hassena’s administration left, the contracts of Abdessamed Bounacer and Salim Boukhanchouche were renewed for two seasons, and Abdelkrim Namani’s renewed for four seasons.[19][20][21] As for Hocine Dehiri whose loan period ended, his contract was bought from Paradou AC, where he signed a contract for three seasons.[22][23] On June 23, 2024, Zineddine Belaïd met with Athmane Sehbane, where he agreed that he would officially leave. The team’s management finally agreed not to put obstacles in the way of the player’s ambition and in a way that preserves the rights of the club. The agreement was finally concluded to fulfill the desire of Belaïd to join the Belgian club Sint-Truiden and signed his exit paper.[24]
On July 8, 2024, USM Alger has its first summer recruit the defender Ilyes Chetti, after the termination of his contract with the Wydad AC, Where he signed a contract for three seasons for an astronomical total salary exceeding 6 million DA.[25][26] In the sights of several Algerian clubs in this transfer window, Houssam Ghacha finally joined USM Alger for three seasons, coming from Espérance de Tunis.[27][28] On July 23, USM Alger announced the recruitment of two Congolese players from TP Mazembe, Kévin Mondeko and Glody Likonza. Although he was also called up by CS Constantine, Mondeko has signed a two-season contract with the Rouge et Noir, while Likonza has signed for a period of three seasons. The Egyptian Zamalek SC and the Club Africain of Tunis tried to offer the services of the vice-captain of TP Mazembe, but the USMA was quicker in materializing with Likonza, while he was expected in Tunis to finalize his contract with the most popular club in Tunisia.[29][30]
On July 24, Al Sadd announced its official contract with Abdessamed Bounacer for a period of five years.[31] Although he renewed his contract for two seasons, rumors of Bounacer’s departure have increased since the beginning of the transfer market. Where Bounacer moved to Qatar with his agent to negotiate his transfer to Al Sadd. Where Bounacer has a release clause in his contract, which amounts to 500,000 euros.[32][33] On July 27, USM Alger announced the arrival of the Algerian left winger Ghiles Guenaoui, as the fifth player to join the club during the summer coming from the Al Masry SC. The Egyptian club’s management approved the offer submitted to obtain Guenaoui’ services on a permanent transfer, after paying the agreed financial value.[34][35][36] On August 6, USM Alger signed a contract with Nigerian Wale Musa Alli for two seasons coming from Zbrojovka Brno.[37] The Ligue de Football Professionnel has demanded proof from USM Alger that Musa Alli has international status with at least five caps for his country, as provided for in the general regulations of the FAF. In the absence of this validation, the player will not be able to be integrated into the Red and Black squad.[38]
With the departures of Belaïd and Bounacer, USM Alger has recruited new central defender Imadeddine Azzi for a season on loan from Kuwaiti club Kazma.[39] On August 13, the management of USM Alger and Simba of Tanzania agreed on the transfer of Cameroonian Leonel Ateba in a deal worth 250 thousand euros.[40][41] On August 23, Hispanic-Senegalese Sekou Gassama signed a two-year electronic contract, coming from Anorthosis Famagusta. His arrival comes after the departure of three foreigners, Malians Kanou and Konaté as well as Cameroonian Ateba.[42][43] On the morning of August 27, USM Alger announced the signing of Bolivian international Adalid Terrazas for three seasons as the fifth foreigner. Terrazas became the first player from South America to join the club since 2009.[44][45] The Soustara club finally managed to find a solution with some of its players that Nabil Maâloul does not see as being able to continue the adventure with the Red and Black.[46] This is the case of the Malian duo Sékou Konaté and Abdoulaye Kanou that USM Alger has definitively removed from the squad. The first was released by signing an amicable agreement while the second was transferred to the Moroccan club Difaâ El Jadidi.[46] In addition to this duo, Sehbane's management has reached an agreement with striker Oussama Bellatreche. Arriving in winter from JS Saoura, Belatreche signed an amicable separation.[46]
Start of season
Squad list
Players and squad numbers last updated on 14 June 2024.[47][48] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
In the qualifying rounds, each tie will be played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score will be tied after the second leg, the away goals rule was applied, and if still tied, extra time will not be played, and the penalty shoot-out will be used to determine the winner (Regulations III. 13 & 14). The draw for the qualifying rounds was held on 11 July 2024, 12:00 GMT (15:00 local time, UTC+3), at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.[66]
^ abc"USMA : Un nouveau président, Koudri et Dziri nommés". DZfoot. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
^ abc"USMA : Nabil Maaloul nommé entraîneur". DZfoot. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ abc"USMA : Maaloul nouvel entraineur". Competition. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^"Ligue 1 Mobilis : Coup d'envoi de la saison 2024-2025 le 12 septembre prochain". Horizons (in French). M. F. 13 May 2024.
^"Ligue 1 : Le calendrier 2024/2025 présenté". DZfoot. 28 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
^"Ligue 1 : Le début de championnat encore décalé..." DZfoot. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
^"USMA : Koudri nommé coordinateur sportif". Competition. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^ ab"USMA : La défense de la saison prochaine se déssine". DZfoot. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^"Laroussi secrétaire de l'équipe". Planete Sport. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
^"USMA : Dziri Bilel jette déja l'éponge !". DZfoot. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
^ abc"Ligue 1 : Augmentation du nombre d'étranger par club". DZfoot. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
^"Rabie Meftah: « Heureux de revenir chez moi »". Planete Sport. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Maâloul prend le pouvoir". Competition. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
^"USMA : Une bonne saison passe par la réussite du stage". Competition. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
^"USM Alger : Direction Tabarka pour la seconde phase de préparation". Africa Foot United. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
^"ALG : Les Usmistes à Tabarka sans Kanou et Konaté". Foot Afrique. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
^"Démission du secrétaire général". Planete Sport. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
^"USMA - Fin du stage de Tabarka". Derby Presse. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
^"Algérie – USM Alger : Abdessamad Bounacer, le premier à renouveler". Africa Foot United. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^ abc"Boukhanchouche prolonge à l'USMA". Horizons. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^"Algérie – USM Alger : Abdelkrim Namani renouvelle son contrat". Africa Foot United. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^ ab"USM Alger: le contrat de Dehiri racheté, Bounacer et Boukhenchouche prolongés". Le Score. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^ ab"USM Alger : Dehiri usmiste jusqu'en 2027". L'algerie Aujourdhui. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
^"Mercato: Le transfert de Zineddine Belaid rapporte un pactole à l'USMA". La gazette du fennec. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
^ ab"USMA: Ilyes Chetti s'engage pour trois saisons". Competition. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
^"USMA : Ilyes Chetti, un salaire qui donne le tournis !". La Gazette du Fennec. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
^ ab"USMA: Houssam Ghacha rejoint les Rouge et Noir (Officiel)". Competition. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Ghacha première recrue offensive". DZfoot. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
^ abc"USMA: Soustara s'offre deux joueurs du TP Mazembe (Officiel)". Competition. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
^ abc"USM Alger : Liconza et Mondeco rejoignent les Rouge et Noir". La Gazette du Fennec. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
^ ab"Al Sadd announces signing of Algerian Abdessamed Bounacer". Dzair Sport. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Bounacer vers le Qatar ?". DZfoot. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
^ ab"Scandale : le Qatar rafle encore un espoir algérien !". La Gazette du Fennec. 20 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
^ ab"Ghiles Guenaoui nouveau joueur de l'USMA". L'Algerie Aujourdhui. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
^ ab"USMA: Guenaoui, cinquième recrue". Dfoot. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
^"بشكل مفاجئ.. المصري البورسعيدي يعلن رحيل غيلاس قناوي ويكشف الأسباب". Al-Masry Al-Youm. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Un joueur Nigérian s'engage". DZfoot. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
^"La qualification de Musa Alli remise en cause". Planete Sport. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Le cadet des frères Azzi pour renforcer la défense". DZfoot. 11 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
^ ab"Ateba's signing may force Simba to make some tough decisions regarding foreign player quota". IPP Media. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
^ ab"Mercato – USM Alger : Accord avec Simba SC pour Leonel Ateba". Africa Foot United. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
^ ab"USM Alger : Le sénégalais Sékou Gassama signe". Africa Foot United. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Un attaquant hispano-sénégalais recruté". DZfoot. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
^ ab"USMA : Un meneur de jeu bolivien signe !". DZfoot. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
^ ab"Adalid Terrazas ficha por el club USM Alger de Argelia" [Adalid Terrazas signs for USM Alger from Algeria] (in Spanish). Los Tiempos. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
^ abcdef"USM Alger : La direction clot partiellement le dossier des libérés". Africa Foot United. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
Kazma 
Wydad AC 
Club Africain 
Anorthosis Famagusta 
Zbrojovka Brno 
Al Masry SC 
Sint-Truidense
Al Sadd SC
Leonel Ateba
Simba
Sékou Konaté
Columbus Crew 2
CSKA Sofia
v 
USM Alger 
Olympic Azzaweya 
Olympic Azzaweya 
