# 2008–09 Algerian Championnat National

The 2008–09 Algerian Championnat National was the 47th season of the Algerian Championnat National since its establishment in 1962. A total of 17 teams contested the league, with MC Alger as the defending champions.
On May 29, 2009, ES Sétif were crowned champions with two games remaining after beating USM El Harrach 2-1.

## RCK & FAF case

On August 20, 2008, the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne forced the club's integration into the Algerian first division championship for the 2008-09 season while investigating the conflict between the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and the club. This case is linked to the arbitrary decision taken by the FAF to impose a sanction against the RCK without having full evidence in the case. The sanction carries a match lost automatically against USM El Harrach and three points penalty for having played a player under a false identity during the RC Kouba & USM El Harrach match counting for the 37th and penultimate day of the Algerian Division 2 season 2007–08 (ended 0-0).
This resulted in RC Kouba resetting the 5th position and the rise of USM El Harrach to 3rd position in the general classification, synonymous with accession to the Algerian first division. Thus and although the club has lodged appeals with the Algerian sports authorities, this decision will not be annulled, which leads the club to seize the international CAS, while the first division matches have already started. Finally, the CAS decided to cancel the sanction taken by the FAF and ordered the integration of the club into the first division for the 2008–09 season, then approved the club's accession on September 29, 20086. The change was ratified by the FAF on October 26, 20087, and the 2008–09 Algerian Championnat National was played with 17 clubs.

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | ES Sétif (C, Q) | 32 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 52 | 25 | +27 | 62 | 2010 CAF Champions League |
| 2 | JS Kabylie (Q) | 32 | 15 | 14 | 3 | 38 | 19 | +19 | 59 | 2010 CAF Champions League |
| 3 | JSM Béjaïa | 32 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 33 | 20 | +13 | 53 | |
| 4 | CR Belouizdad (Q) | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 33 | 27 | +6 | 50 | 2010 CAF Confederation Cup |
| 5 | MC Alger | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 40 | 38 | +2 | 49 | |
| 6 | USM Alger | 32 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 38 | 31 | +7 | 48 | |
| 7 | CA Bordj Bou Arréridj | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 48 | |
| 8 | MC El Eulma | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 46 | |
| 9 | ASO Chlef | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 44 | |
| 10 | USM Annaba | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 31 | 34 | −3 | 41 | |
| 11 | USM El Harrach | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 40 | |
| 12 | AS Khroub | 32 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 39 | |
| 13 | NA Hussein Dey | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 39 | |
| 14 | MSP Batna | 32 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 26 | 35 | −9 | 38 | |
| 15 | USM Blida | 32 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 23 | 31 | −8 | 33 | |
| 16 | MC Saïda (R) | 32 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 40 | −15 | 29 | Relegation to 2009-10 Algerian Championnat National 2 |
| 17 | RC Kouba (R) | 32 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 23 | 44 | −21 | 23 | Relegation to 2009-10 Algerian Championnat National 2 |
* ↑ CA Bordj Bou Arréridj were docked one point

## Season statistics
### Top scorers

| Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Mohamed Messaoud | ASO Chlef | 19 |
| 2 | Lamouri Djediat | ES Sétif | 12 |
| 3 | Nabil Hemani | ES Sétif | 11 |
| 3 | Gérard Mongolo | MC El Eulma | 11 |
| 5 | Adlène Bensaïd | JS Kabylie | 9 |
| 5 | Youcef Saïbi | USM El Harrach | 9 |
| 7 | Hamza Boulemdaïs | JSM Béjaïa | 8 |
| 7 | Ramzi Bourakba | USM El Harrach | 8 |
| 7 | Cheikh Hamidi | USM Annaba/USM Alger | 8 |
| 7 | Farès Hamiti | USM Blida | 8 |
| 7 | Rafan Sidibé | MSP Batna | 8 |
| 7 | Abdelmalek Ziaya | ES Sétif | 8 |