2023–24 Algerian Basketball Cup

2024 Algerian Basketball Cup

Match programme cover
Tournament details
Country	Algeria
Dates	April 5 – July 17, 2024
Teams	22
Defending champions	WO Boufarik
Final positions
Champions	USM Alger
Runner-up	WO Boufarik
Semifinalists	TRA Draria NA Hussein Dey
Tournament statistics
Matches played	21
← 2023 2025 →

The 2023–24 Algerian Basketball Cup was the 55th edition of the Algerian Basketball Cup. Consistent information from the Algerian Basketball Federation indicating the possibility of canceling the Algerian Cup final for the 2023-24 season.^[1] This situation comes following the refusal of the authorities of the Wilaya of Jijel to host the final between WO Boufarik and USM Alger despite the visit of the president of the FABB and the national competitions commission where an agreement was given previously by local authorities.^[1] As such, the Federation, which intends to reschedule this final in Algiers, has been informed that La Coupole d'Alger Arena is requisitioned for another extra-sporting event (cosmetic products exhibition) for the day of July 13.^[1]

The Round of 32 of the Algerian Basketball Cup will be played on April 5 and 6. Title holder, WO Boufarik is exempt from the round and will enter the competition in the round of 16 like three other teams in the Super Division, namely NB Staouéli, USM Blida and Rouiba CB.^[2]

The round of 16 of the Algerian Basketball Cup did not experience any notable surprises with the qualification for the quarter-finals of the main favorites.^[3] While only the members of the Super Division remain in the running, with the exception of JSB Ain El Araba (National 1), the hierarchy was respected with in particular the victory of WO Boufarik holder of the trophy, against USM Blida (55-82), in the Mitidja derby, or the success of the outgoing Algerian champion, USM Alger against the newly promoted CR Béni Saf (68-85).^[3] For their part, NB Staouéli and MC Alger, also passed this round without much difficulty by dismissing, respectively, US Sétif (85-57) and Rouiba CB (74-47).^[3] Finally, note that TRA Draria, CSC Djasr Kasentina and NA Hussein Dey were propelled to the quarter-finals without playing following the withdrawals of JSB Ain El Araba, PS El Eulma and OS Bordj Bou Arreridj.^[3]

USM Alger beat CSC Djasr Kasentina with a score of 73 to 58. The USMA basketball players, reigning Algerian champions, took well the match in hand, with a 20-point lead in the first quarter (29–09), then (42–28) at half-time. In the second half, the Usmists managed their lead on the scoreboard (57–37) in the third quarter, before ending the match with a 15-point lead (73–58).^[4][5] WO Boufarik reached the semi-finals by dominating NB Staouéli with a score of 81 to 78, in the quarter-final played at La Coupole d'Alger Arena, the advantage of the Boufarikois, carried by their long-time leader Abdelhalim Kaouane. In the second quarter, Sofiane Boulahia's men managed to widen the gap under the leadership of their pivot recruited at the start of the season, Seddik Touati, returning to the locker room with an 11-point lead (47–36). In the second half, Staoueli's players first reduced the gap to seven points at the end of the third quarter (67–60), before going ahead two minutes from the final whistle (78–76). But the experience of the players of Boufarik and the free throw skills allowed the WO Boufarik to get back in front and win at the wire with three points in advance (81–78).^[4]

WO Boufarik offered itself the first ticket for the final of the Algerian Cup by defeating TRA Draria (67-59), at the Salle OMS Mohamed Kadiri in Rouïba, in a match counting for the first semi-final. In a remake of the 2022 final, TRA Draria failed to take revenge. Double defending champion, WO Boufarik once again managed to have the last word to reach its 3rd consecutive final.^[6] The second ticket for the final of the Algerian Cup went to USM Alger. The Rouge et Noir successfully advanced to the semi-finals after defeating NA Hussein Dey (59-41). USM Alger reaches the final for the first time since 1996 and is looking for the first title in its history in the Algerian Cup.^[7]

USM Alger won the 53rd edition of the Algerian Basketball Cup, beating WO Boufarik, two-time holder of the trophy, with a score of (71-69). The “Rouge et Noir”, champions of Algeria in 2023, thus manage to win their first Algerian Basketball Cup in the history of the Algerian club, after the failure of their first attempt which dates back to the 1989 edition, lost against MC Alger (66-77). However, the WOB entered this final as favorite, having notably beaten USMA three times this season in the Super-Division (first leg: 78-63), (Second leg: 83-65) and (play -off: 85-78).^[8]

Starters: Pts Reb Ast 2 Lamouri Merahi 24 6 1 PG 6 Abdelhalim Kaouane 0 3 6 7 Abdellah Hamdani 26 6 1 SG 23 Kadour Métidji 5 3 2 C 44 Rabah Zitoun 5 5 0 Reserves: 1 Tarek Hamdani 3 5 3 9 Abdeldjalil Zidi DNP C 10 Mohamed Seddik Touati 1 5 0 PG 11 Abdelhak Henna 3 2 2 12 Zakaia Foughali DNP 24 Mohamed Amairia DNP SF 32 Cherif Djamel Eddine Achache 2 9 4 Head coach: Sofiane Boulahia

WO Boufarik USM Alger 0 WO Boufarik Statistics USM Alger 20/37 (54.1%) 2-pt field goals 21/42 (50%) 4/31 (12.9%) 3-pt field goals 7/24 (29.2%) 17/32 (53.1%) Free throws 8/16 (50%) 20 Offensive rebounds 15 27 Defensive rebounds 28 47 Total rebounds 43 19 Assists 16 19 Turnovers 22 Steals 3 Blocks 2 38 Fouls 40

Starters: Pts Reb Ast 5 Zakaria Guezout 15 5 3 9 Moussa Bougria 10 3 6 10 Bouhaous Messaoudi 4 7 2 13 Lotfi Adrar 10 5 3 21 Bassem Medjoubi 2 5 0 Reserves: F/C 0 Nabil Saidi 13 5 0 1 Ramadane Belhadj 13 1 0 4 Zakaria Khoudja DNP 11 Tarek Redouane 4 6 2 29 Abdelmounaim Sadouki DNP 40 Adlene Toufik Adberrahim 0 0 0 SG 55 Merouane Yahya DNP Head coach: Réda El Hachemi