USM Alger governance and transfer saga

In mid‑July, USM Alger announced a wave of signings, bringing midfielder Abderaouf Benguit back from CR Belouizdad and adding two other midfielders on four‑year contracts. The club also extended coach Lamine N’diaye’s contract and prepared for a pre‑season camp in Milan as it entered the 2026‑27 season after recent cup success.

Within days, a serious governance dispute erupted between board chairman Bilal (Billel) Nouioua and sporting director Saïd Allik. The conflict halted contractual and financial decisions, leading head coach Ndiaye and his staff to boycott training over unpaid salaries. The unrest forced the cancellation of the Italy camp and threatened the team’s competitive preparations for domestic and continental competitions.

By late July, the board dismissed sporting director Saïd Allik, citing his unilateral decisions and failure to report to the club’s hierarchy, which had heightened internal tension. In the same period, FIFA lifted the club’s recruitment ban after USM Alger settled a payment dispute with Cameroonian side Dynamo Douala over the transfer of Leonel Ateba, clearing the way for additional signings and restoring the club’s ability to operate in the transfer market.

In early August, the club successfully reactivated negotiations with Paradou AC following the leadership changes. This resulted in the signing of 20-year-old forward and Algerian U23 international Mohamed Amine Ramdaoui on a three-year contract through 2029. The transfer follows previous setbacks where administrative and financial disagreements within the club's leadership had hindered the deal.