CR Belouizdad go top in Algeria as Ben Hammouda penalty sinks JS Saoura
CR Belouizdad are the new leaders of Ligue 1 Mobilis, Algeria’s top flight. The Algiers club left it late, waiting until the final fixture of matchday eight, but a 1-0 win over JS Saoura at the 5 July Stadium on Monday night lifted them to 17 points from seven games – and they are still unbeaten.
The only goal came from Mohamed Ali Ben Hammouda, who converted a penalty in the 51st minute. It was far from a thrilling night, but it was enough to push JS Kabylie, top after the weekend’s games, down into second place.
A tight chasing pack
On Friday, JS Kabylie edged JS El Biar 1-0 in Tizi Ouzou, while MC Oran were held to a goalless draw by Olympique Akbou. A day later, USM Alger produced one of the results of the round with a 2-0 away win at CS Constantine, and MC Alger beat USM Khenchela 2-0 thanks to goals from Ayoub Ghezala and Soufiane Bayazid.
Elsewhere, ES Sétif won 2-1 at ASO Chlef, MB Rouissat and ES Ben Aknoun drew 1-1, and CR Témouchent and US Biskra shared the points in another 1-1 draw that leaves Biskra rooted to the bottom.
Top of the table
- 1. CR Belouizdad: 17 points (7 games)
- 2. JS Kabylie: 16 points
- 3. MC Oran: 15 points
- 4. USM Alger: 14 points
- MC Alger: 13 points from only 5 games
What’s next?
MC Alger have two games in hand on the leaders, so the real shape of the title race is still to come. Next up on the Algerian football calendar, the Desert Foxes – as Algeria’s national team is known – face Togo twice, on 14 and 17 November, in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sources: La Nouvelle République, L’Express DZ, Le Soir d’Algérie, Pan Africa Football