Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1
Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 is the top-tier football league in Algeria,
organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) under the
Algerian Football Federation (FAF). Founded in 1962 after independence,
it is one of Africa’s most passionate and historic leagues, producing powerhouse clubs
like JS Kabylie, MC Alger, and USM Alger.
History and facts
The league was established in 1962 and quickly grew into one of North Africa’s strongest football competitions.
Algerian clubs are known for their fan culture, competitiveness, and continental success, particularly JS Kabylie, one of the most decorated clubs in African competitions.
The league became fully professional in 2010, under structural reforms by the FAF and LFP.
League system
The league features 16 teams.
The bottom 2 clubs are relegated to the
Ligue 2, while the top two Ligue 2 teams earn promotion each season.
Table 1. Algerian football league pyramid
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Ligue Professionnelle 1 | 1 |
| Ligue 2 | 2 |
| Inter-regional Division | 3 |
Below these levels are regional amateur leagues.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Most Ligue 1 titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| JS Kabylie | 14 |
| USM Alger | 7 |
| MC Alger | 7 |
| ES Sétif | 8 |
| CR Belouizdad | 9 |
JS Kabylie is Algeria’s most decorated club both domestically and continentally.
Teams with most league participation
Table 3. Most seasons in Ligue 1
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| MC Alger | 60+ |
| JS Kabylie | 55+ |
| USM Alger | 50+ |
| CR Belouizdad | 50+ |
| ES Sétif | 45+ |
MC Alger and JS Kabylie have the deepest historical presence in the league.
Audience
Major stadiums
Table 4. Major stadiums in Algeria
| Stadium | Home Club | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 | MC Alger / Algeria NT | 64,000 |
| Stade 20 Août 1955 | CR Belouizdad | 20,000 |
| Stade 1er Novembre | JS Kabylie | 25,000 |
| Stade Omar Hamadi | USM Alger | 12,000 |
| Stade 8 Mai 1945 | ES Sétif | 25,000 |
Players
Famous players
- Riyad Mahrez
- Sofiane Feghouli
- Islam Slimani
- Madjid Bougherra
- Rafik Saïfi
- Yacine Brahimi
- Hocine Achiou
- Abdelhafid Tasfaout
Algerian Ligue 1 timeline
1962
The league is founded following Algerian independence.
1970s
JS Kabylie emerges as a continental powerhouse.
1990s
USM Alger and ES Sétif become major title contenders.
2010
League becomes fully professional.
2020s
CR Belouizdad dominates the league with multiple titles.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Ligue_Professionnelle_1
https://www.lfp.dz
https://rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Ligue_Professionnelle_1
https://www.lfp.dz
https://rsssf.org
