CAF Champions League: JS Kabylie vs. Horoya in Tizi-Ouzou, CAF confirms

JS Kabylie to Host Horoya AC at Approved November 1st Stadium

JS Kabylie (JSK) will host Horoya AC of Conakry on September 14 at the 1st of November Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou for the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. This announcement comes after the stadium successfully received approval from CAF to host continental matches.

Earlier this week, CAF sent an inspection team to assess the November 1st Stadium. Yesterday, the governing body delivered its verdict: the stadium is now officially authorized for matches in African competitions. This approval allows JS Kabylie to return to their home ground after initially planning to play their match against Horoya AC at the July 5th Stadium due to prior concerns.

The club’s president, Chérif Mellal, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that “all the reservations expressed by CAF have been lifted and addressed.” His remarks underline the club’s proactive efforts to meet CAF’s standards ahead of the upcoming fixture.

The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) also played a key role in this process, dispatching an inspection committee to the stadium to evaluate its readiness. The committee prepared a detailed report for CAF, which outlined the stadium’s compliance in terms of security measures, lighting, and pitch condition—three critical criteria for hosting matches in CAF competitions. Following this, CAF dispatched an official representative to make a final assessment and confirm that the stadium met all requirements.

The approval is particularly significant for JS Kabylie and their supporters. Fans can now look forward to seeing their team compete in a familiar environment, a factor that can provide both morale and tactical advantages. The November 1st Stadium, with its rich history and passionate atmosphere, will once again host top-level African football, offering the home side a real boost in their continental campaign.

This season, JS Kabylie’s journey in the CAF Champions League began in the preliminary round. For their first leg, they faced Al-Merrikh of Sudan at the Maghreb Unity Stadium in Bejaia, as the November 1st Stadium was still awaiting CAF approval. That match set the tone for JSK’s ambitions in the tournament, and now, with their home stadium cleared, the club hopes to capitalize on the home advantage against Horoya AC.

The second preliminary round promises to be a high-stakes encounter. Horoya AC, one of Guinea’s strongest teams, will travel to Tizi-Ouzou aiming to secure a favorable result, while JS Kabylie will rely on the support of their fans and the familiarity of their home ground to advance in the competition.

With CAF’s inspection completed and the November 1st Stadium officially sanctioned, JS Kabylie can now focus entirely on preparations for the match. The club and its supporters are eager to see the team make a strong impression in front of a home crowd, signaling their intent to make a deep run in Africa’s premier club competition.