Algeria Ligue 1: A strong finish leaves MC Alger one win away from retaining title
- Andrew Olsson
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
MC Alger can retain their title as champions of Algerian football with one more victory after MCA secured a 5-2 victory over ES Mostaganem in their latest Ligue 1 Professionnelle clash on Thursday evening.
Guinean striker Mohamed Bangoura scored twice to make it five goals in his last five matches while Soufiane Bayazid and Larbi Tabti also added goals for the defending champions. Bangoura and fellow West African, Ivorian attacker Kipre Zunon, put MCA ahead 2-0 just past the twenty minute mark.
ESM responded well to level the match with a goal just before halftime before equalizing in the 69th minute...all while the relegation fighters played with a numerical disadvantage following a first half red card. However, MCA scored three times in the final half hour to make it seven league games without a defeat.
JS Kabylie and CR Belouizdad kept their slim title hopes alive, each winning 2-0 on Thursday. Aymen Mahious and Mohamed Belkhir scored for CRB in their victory at CS Constantine while Ryad Boudebouz and Kouceila Boualia provided the goals for JSK against ES Setif.
However, at this point the title is MCA's to lose. A difficult test away form home at ASO Chlef awaits on Tuesday but the champions only need one victory which is likely to arrive on the final day at home against NC Magra. Both JSK and CRB must win their remaining two matches to have any chance at catching MCA.
Results
Wednesday
USM Khenchela 1-0 USM Alger
ASO Chlef 1-2 JS Saoura
MC Oran 3-2 MC El Bayadh
Olympique Akbou 2-0 US Biskra
Thursday
JS Kabylie 2-0 ES Setif
MC Alger 5-2 ES Mostaganem
Paradou AC 2-0 NC Magra
CS Constantine 0-2 CR Belouizdad
League Table (28 of 30 games played)
Points | |
MC Alger | 56 |
JS Kabylie | 52 |
CR Belouizdad | 51 |
Paradou AC | 41 |
JS Saoura | 39 |
CS Constantine | 38 |
ES Setif | 38 |
USM Alger | 37 |
MC Oran | 37 |
MC El Bayadh | 36 |
USM Khenchela | 34 |
Olympique Akbou | 33 |
ASO Chlef | 33 |
ES Mostaganem | 30 |
NC Magra | 27 |
US Biskra | 20 |
The league champion and the runners-up qualify for the 2025-26 CAF Champions League.
The third place finisher qualifies for the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup along with the winner of the Algerian Cup.
The bottom two teams at the end of the season are relegated to Ligue 2.
