The Algerian Ligue 1 football championship resumed on Friday with four matches in the first round of the 2020-2021 season. The absence of spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic was felt, as all four matches ended in draws. The new team, WA Tlemcen, managed to secure a point against CS Constantine, while MC Oran, under the coaching of Casoni, earned a valuable draw against NA Hussein Dey with a score of 1-1.
Abdelkader Boutiche of MC Oran scored the first goal of the season from a penalty in the 44th minute, but the team was quickly equalized by Si Ammar in the 46th minute. The Paradou AC, known for relying on their youth academy, also secured a point against the new team, RC Relizane, with a draw. The match saw Ben Bouali score for Paradou AC in the 17th minute, but Hatala equalized for Relizane in the 43rd minute.
The JS Kabylie, who have undergone significant changes in their squad, struggled against CA Bordj Bou Arréridj, with the match ending in a goalless draw. The team's manager, Zelfani, was not allowed to coach from the sidelines due to licensing issues. Meanwhile, the team's DTS, Kamel Abdeslam, announced his resignation, citing the continuation of Zelfani as a condition for his departure.
In a surprising turn of events, the JS Kabylie president, Mellal, announced the dismissal of Zelfani after the match. This move comes after weeks of pressure from Kamel Abdeslam, who had made Zelfani's departure a condition for his own return to the team. The sudden change has sparked interest in the team's future prospects.
As the news of Zelfani's departure broke, Mellal announced the appointment of Bouzidi as the new coach of JS Kabylie on Saturday. This development has brought some stability to the team, with Kamel Abdeslam reportedly returning to his position after initially resigning.
The CA Bordj Bou Arréridj team, under coach Bilel Dziri, had a strong defensive performance against JS Kabylie, but they also face challenges with the non-qualification of their new recruits. The team lost two key players during the off-season, including Ivoirian Isla who joined MC Alger and Soudanese El-Ghorbal who returned to Sudan.
The first round of the Algerian Ligue 1 has set the stage for an interesting season, with several teams showing promise and others facing challenges. The absence of spectators has affected the atmosphere, but the teams have shown resilience in the face of adversity. The upcoming rounds will likely see teams adapting to the new season and striving for better results.
Key points
- JS Kabylie manager Zelfani was dismissed after the team's draw against CA Bordj Bou Arréridj.
- The Algerian Ligue 1 resumed after an eight-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- All four matches in the first round ended in draws.
