Union Sportive de la Médina Khenchela (Arabic: الإتحاد الرياضي لمدينة خنشلة), known as USM Khenchela or simply USMK, is an Algerian professional football club based in Khenchela. The club was founded in 1943 and its colours are white and black. Their home stadium, Amar Hamam Stadium, has a capacity of 5,000 spectators. The club is currently playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

USM Khenchela
Full nameUnion sportive de la Médina Khenchela
Nickname(s)Lions des Aurés - Ciskaoua
FoundedJuly 28, 1943; 80 years ago (1943-07-28) (as Union sportive de la Médina Khenchela)
GroundAmar Hamam Stadium
Capacity5,000
PresidentWalid Boukrouma
LeagueLigue 1
2022–23Ligue 1, 8th of 16
Current season

History edit

The club came fifth in the 2009–10 Ligue Inter-Régions de football – Groupe Est.[1]

The club was promoted for the 2010–11 season of the newly created Championnat National de Football Amateur due to the professionalisation of the first two divisions in Algeria.[2]

On August 5, 2020, USM Khenchela were promoted to the Algerian Ligue 2.[3]

On May 21, 2022, USM Khenchela were promoted to the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 returns to the national elite that it left almost 50 years ago. The Ciskaoua will thus once again taste the sensations of the Ligue 1 where they had played for two seasons at the beginning of the 1970s.[4] On February 2, 2023, an agreement was signed between Groupe Cosider and USM Khenchela, Under this agreement which covers a renewable year, the club will benefit from financial support during the 2022–23 sports season. This agreement initialed in the presence of the Wali of Khenchela, aims underlined the CEO of Cosider to support the evolution of the club through a sponsorship formula, under which Groupe Cosider will financially support all of the activities of USM Khenchela.[5]

Players edit

Algerian teams are limited to three foreign players. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player;

Current squad edit

As of 5 February 2024[6][7] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   ALG Oussama Filali
5 DF   ALG Nabil Saâdou
6 DF   ALG Hocine Laribi
7 FW   ALG Chouaib Debbih
8 MF   ALG Abdelhakim Sameur (captain)
9 FW   ALG Ilyes Yaiche
10 MF   ALG Mohamed Yassine Athmani
11 MF   ALG Hacène Ogbi
12 DF   ALG Oussama Kaddour
13 FW   ALG Mohamed Amine Semahi
14 FW   MLI Diadié Samadiaré
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK   ALG Sofiane Khedairia
17 FW   ALG Karim Sabouni
18 MF   ALG Ahmed Gagaâ
20 FW   NGA Tosin Omoyele
21 DF   ALG Hamza Rebai
22 DF   ALG Mohamed Guemroud
24 MF   MLI Moussa Coulibaly
25 DF   ALG Abdelhafid Hoggas
26 DF   ALG Abdellah Meddah
27 MF   ALG Sid Ali Lamri

Personnel edit

Current technical staff edit

Position Staff
Head coach
Assistant coach Abdeldjalil Louil
Goalkeeping coach Allawa Ayadhi
Fitness coach Abdallah Mansouri

References edit

  1. ^ "Inter-région : JS Saoura, WAB et ABS champions -DZFOOT.COM". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  2. ^ "Amateurs : Les 2 groupes du Championnat national -DZFOOT.COM". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  3. ^ "Saison 2019/2020 : Les clubs de Division Nationale Amateurs promus en Ligue 2". 5 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Accession en Ligue 1: historique pour le MC El Bayadh, l'USM Khenchela retrouve l'élite". APS. February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Foot/Ligue 1: signature d'une convention entre le groupe Cosider et l'USM Khenhela". APS. February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "FICHE DU CLUB: USM KHENCHLA".
  7. ^ "Joueurs du USM KHENCHLA".

External links edit