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ES Sétif
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ES Sétif
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Entente Sportive Sétifienne (Arabic: الوفاق الرياضي السطايفي), known as Entente de Sétif, commonly referred to as ES Sétif or ESS for short, is an Algerian professional football club based in Sétif. The club was founded in 1958 and its colours are black and white. Their home stadium, the 8 May 1945 Stadium, has a capacity of 18,000 spectators. The club is currently playing in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

Key Information

ESS is one of the most successful clubs in Algeria, having won the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 eight times and the Algerian Cup a record of eight times. They are also one of only three Algerian clubs to have won the CAF Champions League, winning it twice in 1988 and 2014. They have also won the Arab Champions League twice, in 2007 and 2008, as well as three North African Cups in 2009 and 2010. In 2015, they became the first Algerian club to win the CAF Super Cup since the creation of the competition in 1993.

ES Sétif became CAF Champions League champion by defeating DR Congo's AS Vita Club in the 2014 final; and the reigning CAF Super Cup champions, by beating Egypt's Al Ahly in the 2015 Super Cup[5] and the reigning Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 champions.

History

[edit]

The club was founded in 1958 by Ali Benaouda and Ali Layass as Entente Sportive Sétifienne (ESS), the name was later changed to Entente Pétroliers Sétifienne (EPS) in 1977, and again in 1984 it became known as Entente Plastique Sétifienne (EPS) and was then later changed back to Entente Sportive Sétifienne (ESS).[6]

The first colours of the club were green and the white, and following a confrontation with the French Army in a match with FC Gadir on May 8, 1945, colours changed to black and white as mourning for the events on this day. The Guessab Stadium was the original name for the club's home.

ES Sétif is one of the prestigious top flight Algerian clubs. The club has won the Algerian Cup 8 times, and is the only Algerian team to have won the Afro-Asia cup, in 1989 in Qatar.

Since its foundation, ES Sétif has had 19 presidents, the first being Ibrahim Dokomi.[citation needed] The current president is Hassan Hammar.

African success

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In 1988, ES Sétif won the African Cup of Champions Clubs by beating Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Nigeria 4–1 on aggregate in the final.[7] After losing the first leg 1–0 in Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, ES Sétif scored 4 goals in the return leg in Constantine to lift the trophy. ES Sétif were playing in the Algerian second division at time and are the only club in Africa to date to have won the African Cup of Champions Clubs while not being in the top flight.

By winning the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs, ES Sétif qualified for the 1989 Afro-Asian Club Championship, where they faced Al-Sadd of Qatar, winners of the 1988–89 Asian Club Championship. ES Sétif won both legs, 2–0 at home and 3–1 in Doha, to lift the trophy.[8] They are the only Algerian club to have won the competition.

On June 29, 2010, ES Sétif became the first fully professional club in Algeria.[9]

On August 8, 2010, ES Sétif defeated CS Sfaxien of Tunisia 1–0 to win the first-ever edition of the UNAF Super Cup.[10]

Crest

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  • Former logo
    Former logo
  • Former logo
    Former logo
  • Former logo
    Former logo

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

[edit]

Honours

[edit]
Type Competition Titles Winning Seasons
Domestic Ligue 1 8 1968, 1987, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
Algerian Cup 8 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1980, 1989, 2010, 2012
Algerian Super Cup 2 2015, 2017
Continental African Champions League 2 1988, 2014
African Super Cup 1 2015
Intercontinental Afro-Asian Cup 1 1989
Regional Arab Club Champions Cup 2 2007, 2008
North African Cup of Champions 1 2009
North African Cup Winners Cup 1 2010
North African Super Cup 1 2010

Performance in CAF competitions

[edit]
ES Sétif 1989–90 with From Left to Right:
Stand Up : Serrar - Boulehdjilet - Osmani - Nabti - Zorgane - Bernaoui.
Sitting Bendjabellah - Rahmani - Adjissa - Gharib - Adjas.
This team participated in the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs.

ES Sétif whose team has regularly taken part in Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions. Qualification for Algerian clubs is determined by a team's performance in its domestic league and cup competitions, ES Sétif have regularly qualified for the primary African competition, the African Cup, by winning the Ligue Professionnelle 1. ES Sétif have also achieved African qualification via the Algerian Cup and have played in the former African Cup Winners' Cup. The first match was against Kampala City FC and it ended in a 1–0 loss, As for the biggest win was in 1991 against ASC Linguère 7–1, and biggest loss was against Union Douala 5–0 in 1981.

After six years of absence, ES Setif returned to continental competitions, this time in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, for the first time The following year and in the same competition, despite falling to the second division, Les Aigles Noirs managed to achieve the title for the first time against Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Nigeria and after the defeat in the First leg 1–0, they achieved an overwhelming victory in the Second leg 4–0 in a match that took place at Stade du 17 Juin in Constantine, After that, they met with Al Sadd SC in the final of the Afro-Asian Club Championship, and won the title for the first time, which is the only one of its kind in the history of Algerian football. In 1991 ES Sétif participated in the last continental participation in the twentieth century, where it reached the semi-finals, and in the Second round, Malik Zorgane scored the first hat-trick for ES Sétif against SC Gagnoa.

Total standings of African Cup participations (1963 to 2022–23)

[edit]
Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA CSC CCL CCWC CAC CCC
Pa. Pld Pa. Pld Pa. Pld Pa. Pld Pa. Pld
1 JS Kabylie 213 107 38 68 265 184 2 2 17 122 2 14 4 30 5 45
2 ES Sétif 145 61 37 47 219 162 1 1 12 94 2 12 − − 5 36
3 USM Alger 145 69 34 42 233 143 1 1 9 80 5 25 1 6 4 34
4 CR Belouizdad 79 32 20 27 96 76 − − 6 50 2 10 − − 4 20
5 MC Alger 72 31 13 28 110 92 − − 7 48 1 4 − − 4 20
6 MC Oran 48 19 10 19 70 52 − − 3 20 3 12 2 8 2 8

Pos. = Position; Pld = Matches played; W = Won; D = Drawn; L = Lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pa. = Participation; Pld = Matches played
CSC = CAF Super Cup; CCL = CAF Champions League; CCWC = CAF Cup Winners' Cup;
CAC = CAF Cup; CCC = CAF Confederation Cup

Players

[edit]

Algerian teams are limited to four foreign players. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player;

Current squad

[edit]

As of 31 August 2025.[11] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ALG Tarek Bousseder
3 DF  ALG Issam Naim
4 DF  ALG Imadeddine Boubekeur
5 DF  ALG Youcef Douar
6 MF  ALG Oussama Daibeche
7 MF  ALG Salah Bouchama
8 DF  ALG Houari Ferhani
9 FW  ALG Mohamed Benlebna
10 MF  ALG Akram Djahnit (captain)
11 MF  ALG Kheireddine Toual
12 DF  ALG Adda Derder
14 MF  ALG Abderraouf Arib
15 DF  ALG Lahcene Bouziane
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK  ALG Zakaria Saidi
17 FW  ALG Mohamed Boukerma
18 FW  ALG Issad Lakdja
19 FW  GAM Gibril Sillah
20 FW  ALG Merouane Zerrouki
21 MF  ALG Hachemi Benslimane
22 DF  ALG Ibrahim Bekakchi
23 FW  RWA Abeddy Biramahire
26 DF  ALG Aïssa Boudechicha
27 DF  ALG Kamel Hamidi
28 FW  ALG Youcef Gherbi
29 MF  GHA Salifu Mudasiru
30 GK  ALG Ala Eddine Bouaoune

Personnel

[edit]

Current technical staff

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Position Staff
Head coach Taoufik Rouabah
Assistant coach Nassim Sefraoui
Goalkeeping coach Ammar Belhani
Fitness coach Marouene Slimani

Management

[edit]
Position Staff
President Abdelhamid Rais
Director General Nabil Gouasmia
Sporting Director Dhia Eddine Boulahdjilet
Financial Director

Notable players

[edit]

Below are the notable former players who have represented ES Sétif in league and international competition since the club's foundation in 1958. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 100 official matches for the club or represented the national team for which the player is eligible during his stint with ES Sétif or following his departure.

For a complete list of ES Sétif players, see Category:ES Sétif players

Managerial history

[edit]
Dates[12] Name
1962–63 Algeria Mokhtar Aribi
1964–67 Algeria Abdelhamid Kermali
1972–73 Algeria Mokhtar Aribi
Algeria Benhamou
1978–79 Bulgaria Victor
1987–88 Soviet Union Bilov
1989–90 Algeria Bouzid Cheniti
Algeria Hadj Noureddine
1992–93 Algeria Mokhtar Aribi
Palestine Said Hadj Mansour
1993–94 Algeria Abdelhamid Kermali
1994–95 Algeria Boulahdjilat
Algeria Bouzid Cheniti
1997–98 Czech Republic Bikart
Algeria Abdelkrim Khalfa
2001–02 Algeria Safih
Algeria Noureddine Saâdi
Sept 2, 2004 – Jan 23, 2005 Algeria Abdelkrim Bira
Jan 25, 2005 – Jun 1, 2006 France Hervé Revelli
Jun 18, 2005– Nov 30, 2005 Algeria Hocine Zekri
Dec 12, 2005 – Jan 28, 2007 Algeria Rachid Belhout
Feb 1, 2007 – July 5, 2007 Algeria Rabah Saâdane
July 11, 2007 – Sept 18, 2007 Switzerland Charles Roessli
Sept 20, 2007 - Nov 3, 2007 Algeria Noureddine Saâdi
Dec 3, 2007 – June 30, 2008 France Bernard Simondi
Sept 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009 Algeria Azzedine Aït Djoudi
Oct 8, 2009 – Aug 18, 2010 Algeria Noureddine Zekri
Aug 19, 2010 – Dec 31, 2010 Italy Giovanni Solinas
Jan 13, 2011 – June 30, 2011 Italy Giovanni Dellacasa
Sept 22, 2011 – June 16, 2012 Switzerland Alain Geiger
July 1, 2012 – Sept 8, 2013 France Hubert Velud
Sept 8, 2013 – Sept 26, 2013 Algeria Kheirredine Madoui (interim)
Sept 27, 2013 – Dec 8, 2013 France Jean-Christian Lang
Dec 8, 2013 – July 5, 2014 Algeria Rabah Saâdane
July 8, 2014–;– December, 2015 Algeria Kheirredine Madoui
Dec, 2015 – May 27, 2016 Switzerland Alain Geiger
Jun 1, 2016 – Dec 10, 2016 Algeria Abdelkader Amrani
Dec 11, 2016 – Dec 31, 2016 Algeria Malik Zorgane
Jan, 2017 – Dec 17, 2017 Algeria Kheireddine Madoui
Dec 18, 2016 – Dec 31, 2017 Algeria Malik Zorgane
Jan, 2018 – Apr, 2018 Algeria Abdelhak Benchikha
Apr, 2018 – Jun, 2018 Algeria Malik Zorgane
Jun 1, 2018 – Nov 23, 2018 Morocco Rachid Taoussi
Nov 25, 2018 – Feb 5, 2019 Algeria Noureddine Zekri
Feb 7, 2019 – May 30, 2019 Algeria Nabil Neghiz
Jun, 2019 – Oct 17, 2019 Algeria Kheireddine Madoui
Oct 26, 2019 – Feb 28, 2022 Tunisia Nabil Kouki
Feb 28, 2022 – Apr 17, 2022 Algeria Rédha Bendris
Apr 17, 2022 – Jun 17, 2022 Serbia Darko Nović
Jul 14, 2022 – Nov 20, 2022 Egypt Hossam El Badry
Nov 27, 2022 – Jan 8, 2023 Algeria Khaled Lemmouchia (interim)
Jan 8, 2023 – Feb 19, 2023 Tunisia Chiheb Ellili
Feb 25, 2023 – Jul 15, 2023 Algeria Billel Dziri
Aug 6, 2023 – Sep 12, 2023 Algeria Abdelkader Amrani
Sep 13 2023 – Feb 9, 2024 France Franck Dumas
Feb 10, 2024 – Tunisia Ammar Souayah

List of managers

[edit]

Information correct as of 9 February 2024. Only competitive matches are counted.

Key
* Caretaker manager
Name From To Matches Won Drawn Lost Win%
Algeria Mokhtar Arribi 1961 1964
Algeria Mokhtar Arribi 1965 1969
Algeria Mokhtar Arribi 1979 1981
Algeria Mokhtar Arribi 1983 1984
Algeria Mokhtar Arribi 1986 1989
Algeria Abdelkrim Bira 2 September 2004 23 January 2005
France Hervé Revelli 25 January 2005 1 June 2006
Algeria Hocine Zekri 18 June 2006 30 November 2006
Algeria Rachid Belhout 12 December 2006 28 January 2007
Algeria Rabah Saâdane 1 February 2007 5 July 2007
Switzerland Charles Roessli 11 July 2007 18 September 2007
Algeria Noureddine Saâdi 20 September 2007 3 November 2007
France Bernard Simondi 3 December 2007 30 June 2008
Algeria Rachid Belhout 22 September 2009[13]
Algeria Ali Mechiche 20 September 2009 8 December 2009[14]
Algeria Noureddine Zekri 8 October 2009 18 August 2010
Italy Giovanni Solinas 19 August 2010 31 December 2010
Italy Giovanni Dellacasa 13 January 2011 30 June 2011
Switzerland Alain Geiger 22 September 2011[15] 16 June 2012 36 22 5 9 61.11
France Hubert Velud 4 July 2012[16] 7 September 2013 48 27 9 12 56.25
Algeria Kheirredine Madoui * 8 September 2013 26 September 2013 3 2 0 1 66.67
France Jean-Christian Lang 27 September 2013 7 December 2013[17] 9 4 4 1 44.44
Algeria Rabah Saâdane 8 December 2013[18] 5 July 2014 27 14 7 6 51.85
Algeria Kheirredine Madoui 8 July 2014 7 November 2015[19] 70 26 28 16 37.14
Switzerland Alain Geiger 14 November 2015[20] 27 May 2016 27 12 9 6 32.43
Algeria Abdelkader Amrani 1 June 2016 14 December 2016 15 7 4 4 46.67
Algeria Kheïreddine Madoui 24 December 2016 17 December 2017[21] 35 8 8 4 22.86
Algeria Malik Zorgane * 17 December 2017[21] 29 December 2017 1 1 0 0 100
Algeria Abdelhak Benchikha 30 December 2017[22] 25 April 2018 17 6 4 7 35.29
Algeria Malik Zorgane * 25 April 2018 June 2018 5 0 1 4 0
Morocco Rachid Taoussi 1 June 2018[23] 23 November 2018[24] 25 11 6 8 44
Algeria Noureddine Zekri 24 November 2018[25] 5 February 2019[26] 9 5 1 3 55.56
Algeria Nabil Neghiz 7 February 2019[27] 30 May 2019 15 7 3 5 46.67
Algeria Kheirredine Madoui 22 July 2019[28] 12 October 2019[29] 7 2 1 4 28.57
Tunisia Nabil Kouki 26 October 2019[30] 27 February 2022 89 46 23 20 51.69
Serbia Darko Novic 17 April 2022[31] 17 June 2022[32] 14 6 3 5 42.86
Egypt Hossam El Badry 13 July 2022[33] 20 November 2022[34] 10 5 3 2 50
Algeria Khaled Lemmouchia * 27 November 2022[35] 8 January 2023 6 2 2 2 33.33
Tunisia Chiheb Ellili 8 January 2023[36] 19 February 2023[37] 3 1 0 2 33.33
Algeria Billel Dziri 25 February 2023[38] 15 July 2023 12 3 4 5 25
Algeria Abdelkader Amrani 6 August 2023[39] 12 September 2023[40] 0 0 0 0 0
France Franck Dumas 13 September 2023[41] 9 February 2024[42] 17 9 3 5 52.94
Tunisia Ammar Souayah 10 February 2024[43] 9 July 2024[44] 15 6 4 5 40
Algeria Rédha Bendris 10 July 2024[45]

Rival clubs

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

ES Sétif

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Entente Sportive de Sétif (Arabic: الوفاق الرياضي السطايفي; commonly known as ES Sétif or ESS) is an Algerian professional association football club based in , . Founded in 1958, the club competes in the , the top division of Algerian football, and is recognized for its black-and-white kits. ES Sétif stands among Algeria's most successful football clubs, having secured the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 title eight times, most recently in 2017, alongside a record eight Algerian Cup victories. On the continental stage, it has won the CAF Champions League twice—in 1988 and 2014—earning a spot in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, where it placed fifth after defeating Auckland City in the playoff. The club also claimed the CAF Super Cup once and the Algerian Super Cup twice, underscoring its prominence in North African and domestic competitions.

History

Founding and early years

Entente Sportive de Sétif (ES Sétif), initially known as Entente Sportive Sétifienne (ESS), was established in 1958 amid the of Independence by Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) representatives in Wilaya I, the eastern region including , to promote , discipline, and nationalist sentiment under colonial oppression. The founding followed explicit authorization from FLN leader Mohamed Kerouani, with principal organizers Ali Benaouda and Ali Layass spearheading the effort to create a structured football entity as a tool for morale and covert mobilization. During the conflict's final phases, ESS conducted matches in secrecy and under duress, often in makeshift venues, embodying local resilience tied to Sétif's history of anti-colonial uprisings, including the 1945 Sétif and Guelma massacres that claimed thousands of Algerian lives. Post-independence in 1962, the club aligned with the newly formed , entering regional competitions and rapidly ascending through the pyramid by leveraging emerging talent from the war-ravaged east. ESS marked its early competitive footprint with a victory in the 1963 Algerian Cup, the first such national tournament after independence, defeating established rivals and signaling organizational maturity despite infrastructural constraints. By the late 1960s, sustained development yielded the club's inaugural Algerian Championship title in the 1967–68 season, achieved through a 2–0 aggregate win in the final playoff against , establishing ESS as a foundational power in the professionalizing domestic league. This period laid essential groundwork, emphasizing youth academies and regional recruitment amid Algeria's broader post-colonial .

Domestic league and cup successes

ES Sétif has won the on eight occasions, establishing itself as one of the most successful clubs in the competition's history. The club's titles came in the 1967–68, 1986–87 (as EP Sétif), 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, and 2016–17 seasons. In the Algerian Cup, ES Sétif holds the record with eight victories, achieved without a final loss until 2017. These triumphs occurred in 1963 (1–1 draw and 2–0 replay win over ES Mostaganem), 1964 (2–1 over MO Constantine), 1967 (1–0 over JSM Skikda), 1968 (3–2 over NA Hussein Dey), 1980 (1–0 over USK Alger), 1990 (1–0 over MB Batna in the 1989 final), 2010 (3–0 over CA Batna), and 2012 (2–1 after extra time over ). The club has also claimed the Algerian Super Cup twice, in the 2015–16 and 2017–18 editions.

African and international campaigns

ES Sétif first participated in African continental competitions in the 1981 CAF Cup Winners' Cup, advancing past the first round before elimination. The club's breakthrough came in the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs, where they navigated preliminaries and quarter-finals to reach the final against Nigeria's Iwuanyanwu FC, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory to claim their inaugural continental title on , 1988. This success qualified them for the 1989 , which they won by defeating Al-Sadd of 5-1 on aggregate, marking their only appearance in that intercontinental tournament. Subsequent campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s yielded mixed results, including early exits in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, though ES Sétif reached the semi-finals of the 2009 CAF Confederation Cup before falling to AS FAR of Morocco. The 2014 CAF Champions League represented their most recent major triumph, starting with a flawless preliminary round where they conceded no goals en route to the group stage. Topping Group B ahead of CS Sfaxien, TP Mazembe, and Al-Ahly Benghazi, they advanced to the semi-finals, defeating Entente Setif of Côte d'Ivoire 4-2 on aggregate, before clinching the title in the final against AS Vita Club with a 3-3 aggregate draw resolved by the away goals rule after a 3-3 first leg in Kinshasa and 1-1 second leg in Blida on November 1, 2014. As winners, ES Sétif qualified for the in Marrakech, , entering as the highest-ranked African representative. They suffered a 0-4 quarter-final defeat to New Zealand's on December 13, 2014, but rebounded in the fifth-place playoff, defeating Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers 4-2 on penalties following a 0-0 draw on December 20, 2014, to finish fifth overall. The victory propelled them to the 2015 , where they overcame Egypt's Al Ahly 1-0 on February 20, 2015, in , securing their sole title. In later years, ES Sétif maintained consistent involvement in CAF competitions, reaching the 2021–22 Champions League group stage after eliminating Gambia’s Fortune FC and Mali’s AS Real Bamako, though they exited after finishing third in their group with six wins, two draws, and six losses across 14 matches. Their African campaigns underscore a record of two Champions League titles, highlighting resilience in knockout formats despite occasional defensive vulnerabilities in group stages.

Club Identity

Emblem and colors


The official colors of ES Sétif are black and white, established at the club's founding on September 7, 1958, and consistently used in kits, flags, and supporter attire to represent the team's identity. These colors symbolize the club's nickname "L'Aigle Noir" (The Black Eagle) and "El Kahla" (The Black One), evoking strength and tradition in Algerian football. The emblem depicts a stylized eagle with outstretched wings perched above or clutching a black-and-white , embodying the predatory agility associated with the nickname. The design integrates the initials "ES" prominently, flanked by "" in bold lettering, and typically includes five stars above the eagle to denote major continental and national titles, such as the two wins in and 2014. While the eagle is often rendered in or black for visual impact, it aligns with the club's monochromatic palette when applied to official merchandise. This badge has remained a core element of the club's branding since its adoption, reflecting 's historical and cultural pride.

Stadium and facilities

The primary venue for ES Sétif's home matches is the Stade 8 Mai 1945, located in Sétif, , with a of 25,000 spectators. Built in 1972, the stadium includes a surrounding the pitch but lacks . Originally known as Guessab Stadium, it was renamed to commemorate the events of May 8, 1945, and serves as the club's longstanding home ground. The club has pursued infrastructure enhancements, including the development of a dedicated and formation . In 2023, club president Mourad Adjal announced the initiation of works for these facilities, aimed at bolstering development and professional operations. This project aligns with broader investments by Sonelgaz, the club's recent stakeholder, which encompasses plans for a new 50,000-capacity in , though remains suspended as of 2025. Prior efforts include a subsidized formation established in 2017 near the site of the proposed new . Current training activities often utilize the Stade 8 Mai 1945 or nearby fields, supplemented by periodic camps at external locations such as Aïn Draham for preseason preparation. These facilities support the first team and academy squads, though detailed specifications on dedicated infrastructure remain limited pending completion of ongoing projects.

Kits, sponsors, and manufacturers

The kit supplier for ES Sétif is Macron, which has provided the club's matchday and training apparel since the 2024–25 season. The 2024–25 home kit features a predominantly white design with black accents, incorporating the club's traditional colors and Macron's branding. Prior manufacturers include Offside, which equipped the team from 2021 to 2024; for the 2020–21 season; and up to 2020. Shirt sponsorships have varied over time, with recent agreements including a partnership with Sonelgaz, 's state-owned energy company, signed in October 2024. In June 2024, the Compagnie Algérienne des Assurances et de la Réassurance (CAAT) formalized a sponsorship and collaboration deal with the club, focusing on financial and promotional support. Ooredoo acted as an official sponsor from at least 2018, aligning with the telecom firm's broader commitments to Algerian football. Earlier deals included Sonelgaz and in 2007. These sponsorships typically feature logos on the front of the kits, though specific placements can vary by season and agreement terms.

Achievements

National honours

ES Sétif has won the , the premier division of Algerian football, on eight occasions, establishing it as one of the country's most successful clubs domestically. These titles were claimed in the 1967–68, 1986–87, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, and 2016–17 seasons.
SeasonNotes
1967–68First national title post-independence era
1986–87Under name EP Sétif, same entity
2006–07
2008–09
2011–12
2012–13Back-to-back titles
2014–15
2016–17
The club holds the outright record for Algerian Cup (Coupe d'Algérie) victories with eight, more than any other team, spanning from the early post-independence period to the modern era. Wins occurred in 1963 (2–0 vs. ES Mostaganem in replay), 1964 (2–1 vs. MO Constantine), 1967 (1–0 vs. JSM Skikda), 1968 (3–2 vs. NA Hussein Dey), 1980 (1–0 vs. USK Alger), 1989 (vs. MSP Batna), 2010 (3–0 vs. CA Batna), and 2012 (2–1 aet vs. ). ES Sétif has also captured the Algerian Super Cup twice, in 2015–16 (vs. MO Béjaïa) and 2017–18 (vs. ), contests pitting league champions against cup winners or runners-up.

Continental and international honours

ES Sétif has secured two titles in the , Africa's premier club competition, with victories in 1988 against I.S.M. Raja Casablanca and in 2014 against . The 2014 triumph, achieved on November 1, 2014, in , , marked the club's second continental crown after a 26-year gap and qualified them for the , where they finished fifth. The club also won the once, defeating Congolese side 3–2 on aggregate in February 2015, as champions of the preceding . In pan-Arab competitions, ES Sétif claimed consecutive titles in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 editions, defeating Al-Faisaly of in the latter final to become the first club to defend the trophy under its merged format. Additionally, the club won the Afro-Asian Club Championship once, in 1989, against Al-Sadd of Qatar, pitting African and Asian continental champions.

Continental Competitions

Performance overview

Entente Sportive de Sétif has participated in CAF continental competitions since 1981, with its most prominent successes in the CAF Champions League, where it claimed victory twice. In 1988, the club won the African Cup of Champions Clubs (predecessor to the Champions League) by defeating Nigeria's Iwuanyanwu Nationale 4–1 on aggregate in the final, marking Algeria's second continental club title at the time. ES Sétif repeated this achievement in 2014, securing the CAF Champions League trophy after a 3–3 aggregate draw with AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, advancing on the away goals rule in the final held in Blida, Algeria. Beyond the Champions League, ES Sétif reached the final of the inaugural in 2009, losing to Mali's 2–2 on aggregate before falling 3–2 in the . The club also lifted the in 2015, defeating Egypt's Al Ahly 1–1 (6–5 on penalties) in , becoming the first Algerian side to win the competition since its inception in 1993. In other editions, ES Sétif has advanced to group stages or semifinals in various tournaments, including the 1991 semifinals and multiple Champions League group stage appearances, such as in 2016, though it has faced early eliminations in preliminary rounds in recent years like 2018 and 2022.

Notable campaigns and records

ES Sétif secured their first continental title in the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs, defeating Nigeria's Iwuanyanwu Nationale in the final. The second leg on December 9, 1988, ended 4-0 in Sétif's favor, securing the championship after a competitive first leg. During the tournament, the club demonstrated offensive prowess, scoring 18 goals across 10 matches, the highest in the competition that year. The club's most recent major African success came in the , where they overcame of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg in on October 25, 2014, Sétif hosted the return leg in on November 1, 2014, drawing 1-1 to advance 3-3 on aggregate via the . This victory marked their second Champions League title, ending a 26-year drought. In the 2015 CAF Super Cup, ES Sétif became the first Algerian club to claim the honor, prevailing over Egypt's Al Ahly in a decided 6-5 following a goalless draw on February 21, 2015. This triumph followed their Champions League success and highlighted their competitive edge against established African powerhouses. ES Sétif reached the final of the 2009 but fell 2-0 to Mali's on aggregate. Forward Abdelmalek Ziaya contributed significantly, scoring both goals in the semi-final against Nigeria's Bayelsa United and seven in the group stage. Among the club's continental records, ES Sétif holds two titles (1988, 2014) and one (2015), achievements shared by few Algerian sides. They rank third among Algerian clubs for away wins in CAF competitions with 13 victories. The 1988 campaign remains notable for their record 18 goals scored in the tournament.

Players and Staff

Current first-team squad

As of the 2025–26 season, ES Sétif's first-team squad consists of 26 players across goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards.

Goalkeepers

No.PlayerAgeNationality
1Tarek Bousseder24
16Zakaria Saidi29
30Ala Eddine Bouaoune22

Defenders

No.PlayerAgeNationality
4Imadeddine Boubekeur30
5Youcef Douar28
22Ibrahim Bekakchi33
3Issam Abdelhamid Naim19
15Lahcene Bouziane29
8Houari Ferhani32
26Aïssa Boudechicha25
27Kamel Hamidi29
12Adda Derder27

Midfielders

No.PlayerAgeNationality
29Mudasiru Salifu28Ghana
6Oussama Daibeche26Algeria
14Abderraouf Arib20Algeria
7Salah Abd Etouab Bouchama24Algeria
11Kheir Eddine Toual24Algeria
10Akram Djahnit34Algeria
21Hachemi Benslimane19Algeria

Forwards

No.PlayerAgeNationality
23Abeddy Biramahire27
19Gibril Sillah26
17Mohamed Boukerma24
18Issad Lakdja27
20Merouane Zerrouki24
9Mohamed Chemseddine Benlebna20
28Youcef Gherbi20

Youth and reserve teams

The youth system of Entente Sportive de Sétif (ES Sétif) encompasses under-21 (U21) and reserve teams that compete in national youth and reserve leagues, alongside efforts to develop a dedicated training academy. The U21 team participates in the , where it recorded 12 wins, 8 draws, and 10 losses across 30 matches in a recent season, demonstrating competitive performance in developing prospects for the senior squad. The reserve team competes in the , achieving 3 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses in 15 away fixtures during the 2024–25 campaign, serving primarily to provide match experience and squad depth. ES Sétif's formation infrastructure includes a subsidized center established in 2017, featuring two floors with dedicated wings for dining and recovery, a gymnasium, six dressing rooms, and two physiotherapy rooms to support player development. In December 2023, club president Mourad Adjal announced the initiation of construction for an expanded center of formation, including modern sports installations, with works slated to begin in 2024 to enhance and capabilities. The club has adopted the Coerver method for its academy and junior categories, emphasizing technical skills and tactical awareness to align with professional standards. Historically, the youth setup has contributed players to the first team, though recent critiques highlight a potential shift away from traditional promotion pathways amid recruitment challenges. Ongoing plans for a comprehensive , including open stadiums, multisport halls, and recovery facilities, aim to revitalize internal talent production under the club's Société par Actions () management.

Coaching and technical staff

Toufik Rouabah serves as the current head coach of ES Sétif, appointed on October 3, 2025, after the club terminated its contract with German coach Antoine Hey due to unsatisfactory early-season performance in the Algerian Ligue 1. Born on May 6, 1970, Rouabah, aged 55 and by nationality, previously managed clubs including Al-Ain SFC in until February 2025 and HB Chelghoum Laïd in . The technical staff supports Rouabah in player development, tactical preparation, and physical conditioning. Key members include:
PositionNameAgeNationalityAppointment Date
Assistant ManagerKamel Abbassen71July 1, 2018
Fitness CoachMarouene Slimani38Not specified
Rouabah has emphasized addressing psychological fragility among players and relaunching momentum through intensive stages, as stated in post-appointment assessments amid the club's mid-table struggles. The club indicated plans to add a second assistant coach to bolster the setup, though no further appointments were confirmed by late 2025.

Administrative management

The Entente Sportive de Sétif (ES Sétif) is owned by Sonelgaz, Algeria's state-owned electricity and gas corporation, which assumed full ownership of the club's shares in August 2023 to enable comprehensive development across infrastructure, youth academies, and professional operations. This acquisition followed partial involvement and aimed to stabilize finances amid prior ownership disputes. Club management operates via the subsidiary Société Sportive par Actions (SSPA) ES Sétif, with Nabil Kebaili appointed as Président-Directeur Général by Sonelgaz to oversee daily administration, recruitment strategies, and supporter relations. Kebaili has led announcements on squad signings, such as the addition of 12 players in July 2025, emphasizing qualitative recruitment amid competitive pressures in Ligue 1. Dr. Azzedine Arab serves as Directeur Sportif, initially designated in late June 2025 to handle technical scouting, player contracts, and performance oversight, drawing on his prior experience as club president and interim head. An October 2025 internal reorganization reaffirmed Arab's role with expanded authority, alongside the appointment of Fellahi as first-team manager to coordinate training and match preparation. These adjustments, directed by Sonelgaz's including PDG Mourad Adjal, addressed mid-season setbacks and aimed to restore competitive edge. Additional administrative roles include oversight by figures like Aichouche Djamel, tasked since January 2025 with commission and administrative dossier monitoring, as part of Sonelgaz's broader staff renewal to enhance and compliance. Such changes underscore a centralized, corporate-driven model prioritizing fiscal over traditional fan-influenced decisions, though internal tensions—such as reported divergences between Arab and Kebaili—have occasionally delayed initiatives like coaching hires.

Notable Figures

Prominent former players

Akram Djahnit, an Algerian attacking midfielder born on April 3, 1991, is the club's record appearance holder with 336 matches played between 2009 and 2023, during which he contributed significantly to domestic titles including the 2012–13 and the victory. He also ranks as the all-time leading goalscorer for ES Sétif with over 70 goals across competitions, highlighting his longevity and versatility in midfield. Abdelmalek Ziaya, a forward who played for the club from 2013 to 2015, scored the decisive goal in the final against , securing ES Sétif's first continental title with a 3–3 aggregate victory decided on the . Ziaya netted 22 goals in African club competitions for the team, making him the top scorer in those fixtures, and added to the 2013–14 Algerian triumph before moving to . Slimane Raho, a defender and Algerian international with 52 caps between 2001 and 2009, featured prominently for ES Sétif in the early 2000s, contributing to the 2006–07 Algerian Cup win and earning recognition for his defensive reliability in over 100 league appearances. Abdelmoumene Djabou, a winger with 41 caps for including the squad, played for ES Sétif from 2006 to 2010, scoring key goals in domestic campaigns and helping secure the 2008–09 title under his former club before transitioning to European leagues. Faouzi Chaouchi, the goalkeeper who represented at the 2010 World Cup and won the , spent three seasons with ES Sétif from 2009 to 2011, providing stability in goal during a period of competitive league finishes prior to his transfer to .

Managerial history

The managerial history of ES Sétif reflects the club's evolution from its founding in 1958, with early leadership dominated by Algerian coaches such as Mokhtar Arribi, who held multiple tenures spanning the 1960s through the 1980s, contributing to initial domestic successes. Post-independence, figures like Abdelhamid Kermali and Bouzid Cheniti guided the team through formative years, emphasizing local talent development amid 's growing football infrastructure. From the 2000s onward, ES Sétif increasingly recruited foreign expertise alongside domestic managers, leading to continental triumphs under coaches like , who secured the title. This period marked frequent changes, often due to performance pressures or contractual disputes, with over 20 managers in the last two decades. Notable patterns include repeated appointments of Algerians like Kheïreddine Madoui and Noureddine Zekri for stability, interspersed with short-term foreign hires from , , and beyond.
PeriodManagerNationality
01/07/2012 – 08/09/2013
07/12/2013 – 07/11/2015Kheïreddine Madoui
14/11/2015 – 30/05/2016
01/06/2016 – 10/12/2016Abdelkader Amrani
01/01/2017 – 17/12/2017Kheïreddine Madoui
01/01/2018 – 26/04/2018
01/07/2018 – 23/11/2018Rachid Taoussi
24/11/2018 – 06/02/2019Noureddine Zekri
28/10/2019 – 27/02/2022Nabil Kouki
14/07/2022 – 20/11/2022Hossam El-Badry
21/02/2023 – 15/07/2023Billel Dziri
12/09/2023 – 10/02/2024Franck Dumas
10/02/2024 – 30/06/2024Ammar Souayah
10/07/2024 – 21/01/2025Réda Bendriss
21/01/2025 – 21/06/2025Nabil Kouki
07/07/2025 – 03/10/2025Antoine Hey
03/10/2025 – presentToufik Rouabah
The table above details head managers from 2012, highlighting the club's reliance on a blend of experience and tactical innovation amid competitive demands in Algerian and African competitions. Recent appointments, such as German coach Antoine Hey in July 2025, underscore efforts to inject fresh strategies, though his tenure ended after three months, reverting to local leadership under Toufik Rouabah. This turnover has correlated with inconsistent league finishes, from titles in the early to mid-table struggles post-2020.

Rivalries and Supporters

Key rival clubs

The primary rivalry for ES Sétif is with , stemming from their status as two of Algeria's most successful clubs, collectively securing 42 major titles including multiple championships and Algerian Cups. Matches between the two have been highly competitive, with 45 encounters since 2005 yielding 16 victories for ES Sétif, 18 for , and the remainder draws, often featuring intense competition for domestic supremacy. Regionally, ES Sétif contests the Derby de l'Est (Eastern Derby) against CS Constantine, a fixture rooted in geographic proximity in eastern and marked by passionate local support. This matchup has produced closely fought games, such as CS Constantine's 2025 victory in Sétif, highlighting the derby's intensity amid both clubs' pushes for positioning. Another key local contest is the Highlands Derby with MC El Eulma, both hailing from Algeria's eastern highlands, where ES Sétif has historically dominated, including a group stage win over their rivals. These encounters underscore regional pride, with ES Sétif holding an edge in 17 historical meetings, securing 7 wins to MC El Eulma's 3.

Fan culture and incidents

The supporters of Entente Sportive de Sétif, known as "Aiglons" or , exhibit intense loyalty rooted in regional pride, with organized groups driving much of the atmosphere at Stade 8 Mai 1945. Prominent factions include Ultras Inferno, established around 2010 and marking its 10-year anniversary in 2020 with displays emphasizing family spirit and unwavering dedication; Les Fidèles 58; and Gladiators 16. These groups produce choreographed tifos, , and synchronized chants, fostering a vibrant matchday environment that reflects Sétif's cultural identity, though their activities occasionally involve banned items like flares. Despite this fervor, ES Sétif fans have been implicated in multiple disciplinary actions by the (CAF). In September 2014, CAF ordered the Champions League semi-final first leg against to be played behind closed doors, citing repeated unsporting behavior during group-stage matches, including issues reported by officials, following prior warnings and fines. Similar penalties recurred, such as a USD 8,000 fine in 2022 for supporter use of flares and smoke bombs in a match against . More severe incidents include fan violence leading to ES Sétif's expulsion from the , as determined by the competition's organizing committee. In May 2015, clashes during a Champions League tie with Raja Casablanca resulted in the suspension of both clubs' chairmen by CAF, with Moroccan officials accusing Sétif players, staff, and security forces of instigating assaults on their supporters post-match. These events highlight broader challenges with in Algerian football, where ultras passion has intersected with , prompting repeated sanctions to curb disruptions.

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