JS Kabylie close to Algerian football championship title

23/05/2006

JS Kabylie is favoured to win its first Algerian first-division football championship title Thursday.

By Nazim Fethi for Magharebia in Algiers – 23/05/06

[File] JSK

JS Kabylie (JSK) will face US Biskra Thursday (25 May) in its last match in the Algerian football championship. With its 35 point-advantage in the standings over last-place Biskra, JSK should easily get the victory necessary to clinch its first Algerian first-division football championship title.

JSK was put in such an advantageous position during the 29th and penultimate match day on 18 May. Despite losing 3-1 to Oran, it remained one point ahead of USM Alger, who lost 2-1 to NAH Dey.

JSK held a ten-point advantage over defending champion USM Alger at the start of the second half of the season, but eventually fell into second place. However after the 28th game, it returned to the top position with 55 points ahead of USM Alger's 54.

The Kabylie team remains the most-decorated Algerian club with 11 championship titles, four Algeria Cups and three Africa Cups. It has qualified for the quarterfinals of the African Champions League for the current season.

While the championship is likely decided, suspense over which other two teams will join US Biskra in relegation to the second division remains. NAH Dey and WA Tlemcen will avoid relegation with victories, while CS Constantine and USM Annaba need a victory coupled with losses by the teams ahead of them.