Algeria: Lighting issues force rescheduling of JS Saoura v USM Alger as Ligue 1 enters matchday five

The fifth round of the Algerian Ligue 1 gets underway this Friday, 19 September 2025, with a full slate of fixtures across the weekend.

However, one of the headline encounters, JS Saoura against USM Alger, has been rescheduled due to technical problems at the August 20, 1955 Stadium in Béchar.

MC Alger set the tone for the round earlier in the week, edging MC Oran 3-2 in a thrilling contest on Tuesday.

Attention now shifts to the remainder of the programme, beginning on Friday afternoon with Paradou AC taking on Olympique Akbou at 15:00 GMT.

Fixture change explained

The eagerly awaited showdown between JS Saoura and reigning African champions USM Alger had originally been slated for Saturday at 19:00 GMT.

The Professional Football League (LFP), however, confirmed on Thursday that adverse weather had caused damage to the stadium’s floodlighting system, prompting a necessary adjustment.

Due to a malfunction in the lighting of the August 20, 1955 Stadium in Béchar, following the heavy rains that fell over the last two days, the Professional Football League has decided to bring forward the match between JS Saoura and USM Alger to 17:30 GMT instead of 20:00 GMT this Saturday, September 20, read the LFP’s statement.

The earlier kick-off ensures the match can proceed safely without reliance on the faulty lighting infrastructure, sparing fans and clubs a possible postponement.

Full matchday 5 schedule

Friday, 19 September

• 15:00 GMT: Paradou AC v Olympique Akbou
• 16:45 GMT: CS Constantine v ASO Chlef
• 19:00 GMT: Rouissat v ES Sétif

Saturday, 20 September

• 15:00 GMT: Kenchela v Ben Aknoun
• 15:00 GMT: El Bayadh v CR Belouizdad
• 17:30 GMT: JS Saoura v USM Alger

Wednesday, 24 September

• 18:00 GMT: JS Kabylie v Mostaganem

High stakes for top contenders

Beyond the rescheduling, this round presents crucial opportunities for clubs battling at both ends of the table.

Paradou AC, keen to rebound from an inconsistent start, face an ambitious Olympique Akbou side.

CS Constantine’s clash with ASO Chlef is another fixture likely to attract attention, while CR Belouizdad, perennial title challengers, aim to assert dominance against El Bayadh.

The focus, however, will inevitably remain on Béchar, where JS Saoura host USM Alger in a match carrying significant weight for the standings.

Both clubs will want to maintain momentum as the early season begins to take shape, with the adjusted schedule now setting the stage for an earlier-than-expected showdown.