| Taher Benkhelifa | |
| Fullname: | Taher Benkhelifa |
| Birth Date: | 10 June 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Djelfa, Algeria |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | ES Sétif |
| Clubnumber: | 18 |
| Youthyears1: | 2014–2015 |
| Youthclubs1: | Paradou AC |
| Years1: | 2015– |
| Caps1: | 31 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs2: | → JS Kabylie (loan) |
| Caps2: | 29 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2019–2024 |
| Clubs3: | USM Alger |
| Caps3: | 102 |
| Goals3: | 3 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | ES Sétif |
| Caps4: | 11 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2017 |
| Nationalteam1: | Algeria A' |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 14 June 2024 |
Taher Benkhelifa (Arabic: طاهر بن خليفة; born 10 June 1994 in Djelfa) is an Algerian footballer who plays for ES Sétif.
In the summer of 2018, Benkhelifa signed a one-year loan contract with JS Kabylie.[1]
On July 1, 2019, Taher Benkhelifa joined USM Alger on a one-season loan after an agreement with Paradou AC management, the Usmist leaders have recovered the former JS Kabylie after a very good season with the Green and Yellow.[2] Benkhelifa made his debut for USM Alger in the season opener against ES Sétif as a starter in a 2–1 win. On October 23, 2019, Benkhelifa scored his first goal against CA Bordj Bou Arreridj in a match that ended in a 3–0 victory. On September 19, 2020, Benkhelifa continue the adventure with the Reds and Blacks signing a three-year contract, Benkhelifa made a great effort to stay at USMA, whose loan contract expired while President of Paradou AC Kheiredine Zetchi had set the bar too high by asking 3 billion to sell him. The midfielder has decided to waive the arrears owed to him by USMA and thus provide assistance so that USMA officials can redeem his release letter.[3]
At the end of the 2021–22 season, Jamil Benouahi decided to release Benkhelifa for technical reasons. He reached an agreement with officials regarding the amicable separation, while waiting for the signing of his contract termination. Benkhelifa who has had a season far from expectations does not fit into coach's plans.[4] However, with the arrival of a new coach Boualem Charef and his desire to keep him made the difference. Benkhelifa signed a new contract for two seasons.[5] On June 3, 2023, Benkhelifa won the first title in his football career by winning the 2022–23 CAF Confederation Cup after defeating Young Africans of Tanzania.[6] [7] On 15 September 2023, Benkhelifa won the CAF Super Cup title after winning against Al Ahly, it is the second African title with USM Alger in three months.[8]
On 4 February 2024, he joined ES Sétif.[9] [10]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Paradou AC | 2016–17 | Ligue 2 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 52 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 54 | 3 | |||||
| JS Kabylie | → 2018–19 (loan) | Ligue 1 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||
| USM Alger | → 2019–20 (loan) | Ligue 1 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7[11] | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | 33 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |||||
| 2021–22 | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | 23 | 1 | ||||||
| 2022–23 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13[12] | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[13] | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 102 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 134 | 3 | |||
| Career total | 182 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 217 | 6 | |||
USM Alger