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JS Saoura

From Alfawiki
Jeunesse Sportive de la Saoura
Company typeFootball club
IndustrySports
FoundedSeptember 2008; 18 years ago (2008-09)
Headquarters
Méridja
,
Algeria
Area served
Algeria
Key people
Mohamed Zerouati (president)
ProductsFootball team
OwnerEntreprise Nationale de Forage (ENAFOR) (75%), Amateur Sports Club (25%)
ParentSonatrach (parent company of ENAFOR)

Jeunesse Sportive de la Saoura (), commonly referred to as JS Saoura (JSS), is a football club based in Méridja, located within Béchar Province, Algeria. Founded in 2008, the team derives its name from the Saoura valley situated in the southwestern region of the country. The club's official colors are green and yellow, and their home fixtures take place at the 20 August 1955 Stadium in Béchar, which accommodates up to 20,000 spectators. JS Saoura competes in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

Founding and Early Development

Initially established on June 10, 1968, through the union of JSB (Jeunesse Sportive Bécharienne) and ESD (Étoile du Sud de Debdaba), JS Saoura was revived in September 2008 in Méridja with activities spanning four sports: football, tennis, volleyball, and judo. During the 2008–09 campaign, JS Saoura secured first place in the Bechar Regional League, which earned them promotion to the Inter-regions division. The subsequent season saw them triumph in the West group of that division.

In the 2010–11 season, JS Saoura topped the Center-West Group of the Ligue Nationale du Football Amateur, resulting in elevation to Ligue 2. On April 17, 2012, they clinched a 3–1 victory over SA Mohammadia to finish second in the 2011–12 Ligue Professionnelle 2 season, thus achieving promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time. Marking an impressive sequence of four consecutive promotions, JS Saoura debuted in Algeria's premier league during the 2012–13 season as the inaugural club from southwestern Algeria to reach this level.

The club's progress has been substantially supported by financial investment from Entreprise Nationale de Forage (ENAFOR), a subsidiary under the petroleum conglomerate Sonatrach, which holds a controlling 75% stake; the remainder belongs to the Amateur Sports Club.

First Season in Ligue 1

Entering Ligue 1 for their maiden season, JS Saoura’s primary objective was to maintain their status and accumulate top-flight experience. During their ninth-round fixture against USM El Harrach in Bechar, disturbances among supporters led to injuries affecting 45 individuals, including 32 police officers; this incident forced an early termination of the match due to security concerns. On December 20, 2013, the club appointed French coach Alain Michel, marking their first engagement with a foreign manager. By season’s conclusion, standout player Kaddour Beldjilali transferred to Étoile du Sahel for €360,000 following interest from several clubs.

On February 24, 2015, Mustapha Kouici assumed the role of general manager with an eighteen-month mandate aimed at steering strategic direction; however, he was relieved of his duties six months later by incoming club leadership. JS Saoura solidified its competitive presence by finishing as runners-up in both the 2015–16 season and again during the 2017–18 season, narrowly missing out on the championship by three points to CS Constantine. Additionally, they established a remarkable home unbeaten streak spanning 58 matches from 2015 until September 2018.

On January 21, 2021, club president Mohamed Zerouati received a one-year suspension due to contentious conduct directed at match officials during a contest against MC Alger, centered around disagreements concerning COVID-19 safety measures. Zerouati justified his stance by emphasizing JS Saoura’s extensive travel commitments—covering distances up to 3,000 km per season—in contrast to other teams that generally make only one trip to Béchar.

Shirt Sponsor and Kit Supplier

Following JS Saoura's ascent to the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 during the 2012–13 season, the petroleum firm Sonatrach's affiliate Entreprise Nationale de Forage (ENAFOR) acquired a controlling 75% share in the club. Additionally, from November 2013, Mobilis, part of Groupe Télécom Algérie, served as a sponsor for one season alongside four other teams.

National Competitions

CAF Competition Record

JS Saoura frequently participates in tournaments organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), earning qualification through commendable domestic league results. The club made history as the first team from southern Algeria to compete continentally, debuting in the 2017 CAF Champions League after finishing as runners-up in the 2015–16 Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1. Their campaign ended in the preliminary round against Enugu Rangers, with Abderrahmane Bourdim netting their inaugural goal on the continental stage.

During the 2018–19 CAF Champions League, JS Saoura progressed to the group phase, competing alongside clubs such as Al-Ahly, AS Vita Club, and Tanzania's Simba. Their first encounter with Enugu Rangers concluded in a 1–1 draw.

2017 – Preliminary round exit
2018–19 – Reached group stage
2021–22 – Competed in group stage
2022–23 – Eliminated in second round

Players

Algerian football regulations restrict teams to a maximum of three foreign players. The roster below indicates each player's primary nationality.

Current Squad

As of 31 August 2025
















Current Technical Team

Role Name
Head Coach
Assistant Coach Moustapha Djallit

External Links

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