USM Alger has added a fourth star to its jersey following its win in the 2026 African Super Cup. The club defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 in Pretoria to claim the title. This victory marks the second time USM Alger has won the African Super Cup. The club's tradition is to add a star to its jersey for each African title won. The first star represents the 2023 Confederation Cup, the second star represents the 2023 African Super Cup, and the third star represents the 2026 Confederation Cup.
The addition of the fourth star has sparked debate among supporters and football fans. Some argue that only the African Champions League, the most prestigious continental club competition, deserves a star. Others believe that each club should be free to celebrate its titles as it sees fit. There is no common rule or regulation that dictates how stars should be awarded. USM Alger's decision to add a fourth star is therefore legitimate, even if it does not have universal support.
The rules for awarding stars vary across different football governing bodies and countries. For national teams, FIFA allows one star for each World Cup win. Brazil has five stars, Italy and Germany have four, and Argentina has three. On the African continent, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) allows national teams to display their Africa Cup of Nations wins. Egypt has seven stars, Cameroon has five, and Algeria has two.
For clubs, there is no international rule governing the awarding of stars. Some European countries have established their own rules. In Italy, a club receives a star for every ten league titles won. In Germany, the rules are more complex, with a star awarded after three league titles, two after five, and so on. In France, clubs are free to choose how they display their titles.
Algerian clubs have their own ways of displaying their stars. JS Kabylie has six stars for its six continental titles, including two African Champions League titles and three CAF Confederation Cup titles. MC Alger has one star for its 1976 African Champions League title, which was the first continental title won by an Algerian club. CR Belouizdad has one star for its ten Algerian league titles.
Other Algerian clubs have different approaches to displaying their stars. ES Sétif has two stars for its two African Champions League titles, but does not display stars for its Arab titles or 2015 African Super Cup win. USM Alger's four stars represent its two Confederation Cup titles and two African Super Cup titles. The club's approach is consistent with its tradition of only displaying stars for continental titles.
Algerian clubs are continuing to compete strongly in African competitions this season. USM Alger and MC Alger are both participating in the continental group stages. More stars could be added to their jerseys in the coming months. The debate over how stars should be awarded is likely to continue, with different clubs and countries having their own approaches.
Key points
- USM Alger adds fourth star to jersey after winning 2026 African Super Cup
- Debate sparked over whether all African titles deserve a star on a club's jersey
- Algerian clubs have different approaches to displaying stars on their jerseys
