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]
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.[14][15][16] As for Hocine Dehiri whose loan period ended, his contract was bought from Paradou AC, where he signed a contract for three seasons.[17][18] 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.[19]
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.[20][21] 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.[22][23] 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.[24][25]
On July 24, Al Sadd announced its official contract with Abdessamed Bounacer for a period of five years.[26] 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.[27][28] 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.[29][30][31]
Squad list
Players and squad numbers last updated on 14 June 2024.[32][33] 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.[46]
Club Africain 
Wydad AC 
Kazma 
Al Masry SC 
Zbrojovka Brno 
Sint-Truidense
Al Sadd SC
Leonel Ateba
Simba
v 
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