Olympique Akbou

Algerian football club
Football club
Olympique Akbou
Ulembi Aqbu
ⵓⵍⴻⵎⴱⵉ ⴰⵇⵠⵓ
Full nameOlympique Akbou
Ulembi Aqbu
ⵓⵍⴻⵎⴱⵉ ⴰⵇⵠⵓ
Nickname(s)L'OA (The OA)
Les Bleus et Blancs (The Blues and Whites)
Les Lions de la Soummam (Izmawen n Sumam/The Soummam Lions)
Short nameOA
O Akbou
Founded1 January 1936 (88 years ago) (1936-01-01)
Ground1 November 1954 Stadium (Akbou)
Capacity2,000
OwnerSoummam
PresidentKarim Takka
Head coachMourad Karouf
LeagueLigue 2
2022–23Inter-Régions Division, Center-East Group, 1st (promoted)
WebsiteClub website
Home colours
Away colours
Current season

Olympique Akbou (Arabic: أولمبي أقبو; Kabyle: Ulembi Aqbu; Tamazight: ⵓⵍⴻⵎⴱⵉ ⴰⵇⵠⵓ), known as O Akbou or OA for short, is an Algerian football club located in Akbou, Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. The club was founded in 1936 and its colours are blue and white. The club is currently playing in the Algerian Ligue 2.[1]

History

In summer 2018, a year after being relegated to the Division d'Honneur of Béjaïa (then 7th tier),[2] the club was acquired by local businessman Karim Takka.[3] The club immediately gained promotion to the Régionale II the following season. Following 2 successive promotions (the 2020–21 having not been held due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the club found itself in the 3rd tier (the removal of the professional Ligue 2 meant all below tiers would gain one step).

The 2022–23 season saw the club achieve historic success. Bolstered by the arrivals of Mourad Karouf in November 2022 at the helm and Zidane Mebarakou during the winter transfer window at the back, the club achieved a run to the 2022–23 Algerian Cup quarter-finals.[4] Moreover, on May 5, 2023, O Akbou was promoted to the Algerian Ligue 2 for the first time in their history.[5][6] This constitutes their 4th successive promotion.

Grounds

They typically play at 1 November Guendouza Stadium in Akbou.[7]

However, the past years, OA also played their home games in neighboring cities, such as Sidi Aïch and Ighzer Amokrane.[8][9]

The club also hosted games in the Maghrebi Unity Stadium during the 2022–23 season, both in the league and cup.[10]

The Stade des Martyrs, Akbou's municipal stadium, will host the team's games in the future, after the completion of renovation works.

Players

Current squad

As of 5 February 2024[update][11] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Algeria ALG Massinissa Messaoudi
2 DF Algeria ALG Slimane Bouteldja
4 DF Algeria ALG Zidane Mebarakou (captain)
5 DF Algeria ALG Ibrahim Ferhat
6 MF Algeria ALG Louanes Zidi
7 DF Algeria ALG Ayache Ziouache
8 MF Algeria ALG Abdessamad Bounoua
9 FW Algeria ALG Omar Adrar
10 MF Algeria ALG Anis Renaï
11 FW Algeria ALG Abdelkrim Zouari
12 FW Algeria ALG Hamek Abbes
13 FW Algeria ALG Mohamed El Seddik Benbourenane
14 FW Algeria ALG Sid Ali Kabri
15 FW Algeria ALG Mahfoudh Bellounes
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK Algeria ALG Benaouda Klileche
17 FW Algeria ALG Elabed Beloufa
20 MF Algeria ALG Mouloud Mizi Ouallaoua
21 DF Algeria ALG Younes Abdelhak Ouassa
22 DF Algeria ALG Abdennour Ardja
23 MF Algeria ALG Merouane Mehdaoui
24 DF Algeria ALG Mohamed Yasser Chelfaoui
25 GK Algeria ALG Aymen Zoukh
26 MF Algeria ALG Mansour Achour
27 FW Algeria ALG Sofiane Fouad Lachahab

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
77 FW Algeria ALG Amayas Bibi
79 FW Algeria ALG Mohamed Amine Gherbi
No. Pos. Nation Player
90 MF Algeria ALG Massinissa Benamara

Personnel

Current technical staff

Position Staff
Head coach Mourad Karouf
Assistant coach Farid Belkessa
Goalkeeping coach Omar Hamenad
Fitness coach Syphax Ouddai

Honours

Winners: 2022–23[12]
Winners: 2021–22[13]
Winners: 2019–20[14]
Winners: 2018–19[15]

Notes

  1. ^ Level 6 from 2010 to 2020
  2. ^ Level 7 from 2010 to 2020

References

  1. ^ "lirf.org.dz - OAkbou". Ligue Inter Régions de Football.
  2. ^ "L'Olympique Akbou retrouve la Régionale 2". La Dépêche de Kabylie. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  3. ^ "L'Olympique Akbou, une équipe modèle". La Dépêche de Kabylie. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Coupe d'Algérie: qualification historique d'Akbou en quarts de finale". Le Score. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Les nouveaux clubs de la Ligue 2". lnfa.dz. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Ligue 3 : l'Olympique d'Akbou accède en Ligue 2". mediafootdz.dz. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  7. ^ "L'Olympique Akbou célèbre sa promotion en Ligue II Amateur !". Beur FM. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Djazairess : Olympique Akbou (Régionale 1) : L'équipe domiciliée à Sidi Aïch". djazairess.com. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Olympique Akbou - SS Sidi Aïch, les retrouvailles ! - La Dépêche de Kabylie". La Dépêche de Kabylie. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Coupe d'Algérie: qualification historique d'Akbou en quarts de finale". Le Score. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Olympique Akbou – Ligue Nationale du Football Amateur". 26 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Accession en Ligue 2 : Historique pour Akbou, le MSPB et le WAM reviennent". - El Watan. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Régionale 1 : L'Olympique Akbou accède en Interrégions - El watan.dz". - El Watan. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Note aux clubs" (PDF). Ligue Régionale d'Alger.
  15. ^ "L'Olympique Akbou retrouve la Régionale 2". La Dépêche de Kabylie. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2023.

External links

  • Olympique Akbou on Facebook
  • v
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Algerian Ligue 2
Seasons
Clubs
Centre-east
Centre-west
Former
Associated competitionsProspects
Promotion to Ligue 1; Relegation to Inter-Régions Division