Full name | Olympique Akbou Ulembi Aqbu ⵓⵍⴻⵎⴱⵉ ⴰⵇⵠⵓ | ||
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Nickname(s) | L'OA (The OA) Les Lions de la Soummam (Izmawen n Sumam/The Soummam Lions) Les Bleus et Blancs (The Blues and Whites) | ||
Short name | OA O Akbou | ||
Founded | 1 January 1936 | ||
Ground | Maghrebi Unity Stadium | ||
Capacity | 17,500 | ||
Owner | Soummam | ||
President | Karim Takka | ||
Head coach | Mourad Karouf[1] | ||
League | Ligue 1 | ||
2023–24 | Ligue 2, Centre-east Group, 1st (promoted) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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Olympique Akbou (Arabic: أولمبي أقبو; Kabyle: Ulembi Aqbu; Tamazight: ⵓⵍⴻⵎⴱⵉ ⴰⵇⵠⵓ), known as O Akbou or OA for short, is an Algerian professional football club located in Akbou, Béjaïa Province, Kabylia. The club was founded in 1936 and its colours are blue and white. The club currently plays in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.
In summer 2018, a year after being relegated to the Division d'Honneur of Béjaïa (then 7th tier),[2] Olympique Akbou was acquired by local businessman Karim Takka.[3] The club immediately gained promotion to the Régional 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] On 5 May 2023, Olympique Akbou were promoted to the Algerian Ligue 2 for the first time in their history.[5][6] It was their 4th consecutive promotion.
The 2023–24 season began with an away loss at CA Batna. Nevertheless, the club bounced back and went on a 23-game unbeaten run in the league started on October 7 with a 5–0 home win against USM Annaba and ended with a 1–0 away loss at AS Aïn M'lila on May 4. On 11 May 2024, Olympique Akbou were promoted to the Ligue 1 for the first time in their history after beating NRB Teleghma.[7] It was their 5th consecutive promotion, and thus becoming one of the very few clubs around the world to have done so.
Olympique Akbou typically play at 1 November Guendouza Stadium in Akbou.[8]
However, the past years, they also played their home games in neighboring cities, such as Sidi Aïch and Ighzer Amokrane.[9][10]
Olympique Akbou also hosted games in the Maghrebi Unity Stadium of Béjaïa.[11]
The Martyrs Stadium, Akbou's municipal stadium, will host the team's games in the future, after the completion of renovation works.
As of 5 February 2024[update][12] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Position | Staff |
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Head coach | Mourad Karouf |
Assistant coach | Farid Belkessa |
Goalkeeping coach | Omar Hamenad |
Fitness coach | Syphax Ouddai |
Position | Staff |
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President | Karim Takka |
Director General | |
Sporting Director | |
Sporting Manager | |
Financial Director | |
Internal Audit Manager |
Seasons |
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Clubs |
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Associated competitions | |||||||
Prospects | Promotion to Ligue 1; Relegation to Inter-Régions Division |