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USM Khenchela

From Alfawiki
Union Sportive Madinet Khenchela
Company typeFootball club
IndustrySports
Founded1943
Headquarters
Khenchela
,
Algeria
Area served
Algeria
Key people
Walid Boukrouma (President)
ProductsFootball team
OwnerAlgérie Télécom (potential new owner, ongoing acquisition negotiations)

Union Sportive Madinet Khenchela (), commonly referred to as USM Khenchela or USMK, is a professional football team from Algeria, located in Khenchela. Established in 1943, the club's official colors are white and black. Their home matches are held at Hammam Ammar Stadium, which accommodates up to 8,000 spectators. USM Khenchela currently participates in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

History

During the semi-final of the 1970–71 Algerian Cup held in Khenchela against USM Alger, a controversy emerged due to a term used by fans that sparked unrest. This led to a hostile environment and several pitch invasions throughout the four-hour encounter. After the match, players from USM Alger were detained in their dressing rooms until midnight, necessitating intervention by the Gendarmerie from Batna. As a result, the Algerian Football Federation imposed a one-year restriction requiring both clubs to host their home games at venues located at least 50 kilometers away.[1]

In the 1990s, while USM Khenchela competed in the lower tiers, another local team, Ittihad Riadhi Baladiat Khenchela (IRBK), founded in 1985, gained prominence through consistent performances. Efforts to merge USM Khenchela with IRBK did not succeed, and after 28 years of activity, IRBK was ultimately dissolved.[2][3]

Following the professionalization of Algeria’s top two football divisions, USM Khenchela earned promotion to the newly established Championnat National de Football Amateur for the 2010–11 season.[4]

On August 5, 2020, the club achieved advancement to the Algerian Ligue 2, marking an important milestone in its competitive journey.[5]

First Promotion to Ligue 1

USM Khenchela secured promotion to the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 on May 21, 2022, returning to Algeria's premier football division after nearly five decades. The team had previously participated in Ligue 1 for two seasons during the early 1970s. On February 2, 2023, an agreement was formalized between Groupe Cosider and USM Khenchela to provide financial backing for the ongoing 2022–23 campaign. This renewable sponsorship contract, endorsed by the Wali of Khenchela, ensures Groupe Cosider will support all club operations.

During a visit to Khenchela on May 31, 2024, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune pledged to identify a qualified lessee to oversee USM Khenchela’s management. Subsequently, the public telecommunications firm Algérie Télécom emerged as a potential new owner. Club president Walid Boukrouma confirmed initial discussions with Algérie Télécom's CEO concerning ownership transfer plans but noted that completing this process would take several months.

On August 1, 2024, a partnership agreement was signed between Algérie Télécom and USM Khenchela, establishing Algérie Télécom as the club’s official sponsor. The signing ceremony took place at Algérie Télécom’s headquarters in Algiers, attended by both its Chairman and CEO along with Walid Boukrouma. This collaboration aligns with Algérie Télécom’s strategic objectives to support and enhance USM Khenchela’s growth throughout the 2024–25 season as acquisition negotiations continue.

Players

Algerian clubs are permitted to register a maximum of four foreign players. The roster displays only the primary nationality of each individual;

Current squad

As of 31 August 2025














Present technical team

Role Name

Recent seasons

Season League Performance Cup Other Competitions Continental Leading Scorer(s) References
Position Points Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Name Goals
Critérium d'Honneur 2nd 42 18 10 4 4 1962–63 Algerian Cup
Division d'Honneur 3rd 14 1963–64 Algerian Cup
Division d'Honneur 11th 26 1964–65 Algerian Cup
Division d'Honneur 7th 30 1965–66 Algerian Cup
Division d'Honneur 1st 1967–68 Algerian Cup
National II 1st 51 22 15 6 1 35 11 1973–74 Algerian Cup
Nationale I 11th 57 30 11 5 14 24 40 1974–75 Algerian Cup
National II 9th 43 22 5 11 6 18 21 1979–80 Algerian Cup
Inter-régions 5th 49 30 14 7 9 39 28 2009–10 Algerian Cup
DNA 12th 23 26 5 8 13 18 33 2010–11 Algerian Cup
DNA 3rd 44 26 13 5 8 32 28 2011–12 Algerian Cup
DNA 2nd 50 30 14 8 8 36 25 2017–18 Algerian Cup
DNA 6th 36 24 9 9 6 28 19 2019–20 Algerian Cup
Ligue 2 4th 38 22 10 8 4 26 19 Not played
Ligue 2 1st 67 30 19 10 1 60 22 Not played
Ligue 1 8th 42 30 12 6 12 29 29 2022–23 Algerian Cup
Ligue 1 10th 39 30 11 6 13 33 39 2023–24 Algerian Cup
  • The season was halted due to the COVID-19 outbreak; the top eight teams earned promotion, and no teams were relegated.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named mca-usma-1971-une-premiere-historique-pour-le-mouloudia
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