Power shift in Algerian Ligue 1 as Olympique Akbou claim vital victory over JS Saoura

Olympique Akbou’s narrow win and a stalemate between USM Alger and CS Constantine have tightened the race near the top of Algeria’s Ligue 1 standings following Matchday 22.

Sunday’s fixtures in Algeria’s top-flight football league delivered two closely contested encounters that reshaped the battle for the leading positions.

While Olympique Akbou secured a crucial home victory, USM Alger and CS Constantine were forced to settle for a goalless draw in a result that leaves the title race finely balanced.

Olympique Akbou produced a disciplined performance in front of their home supporters to defeat JS Saoura 1-0.

The decisive moment arrived midway through the first half when Merouane Mehdaoui found the breakthrough in the 23rd minute.

His goal ultimately proved enough to separate the two sides in a match where chances were limited and defensive organisation played a key role.

The victory carries significant weight for Akbou.

With the three points secured, the club climbs to third place in the standings on 35 points.

That rise comes at the expense of JS Saoura, who slip just behind them into fourth place with 34 points after failing to recover from Mehdaoui’s early strike.

Elsewhere, the meeting between USM Alger and CS Constantine ended without a goal as both teams struggled to convert possession into clear scoring opportunities.

Despite the stalemate, the result has implications for the league table.

CS Constantine remain second with 37 points but now see their advantage over Olympique Akbou reduced to only two points.

The narrowing gap adds further tension to the race for the top positions as the season moves toward its final stages.

For USM Alger, the draw offers little progress.

The side stays in 10th place with 26 points after being unable to turn home advantage into a win that could have lifted them higher in the standings.

With several matches still to play, the latest results have intensified competition among the teams chasing podium places.

The margins between the leading clubs are tightening, suggesting that the closing weeks of the campaign could deliver a dramatic conclusion where every point becomes increasingly valuable.