USM Alger Advances to CAF Confederation Cup Following Tumultuous Clash with Olympique Safi

The two-legged semi-final concluded with a 1-1 aggregate score, having ended goalless in Algiers the previous weekend.

USM Alger will now compete against Egypt’s Zamalek in the final on May 9 and 16.

A record $4 million prize awaits the champions – a staggering 100 per cent increase from the previous season – in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

The match kick-off was postponed by 80 minutes after rival fans hurled objects onto the field, leading to a Moroccan journalist reportedly being hospitalised following an assault.

Ahmed Khaldi netted a penalty just four minutes into added time of the first half, giving the Algiers side a vital lead and leaving Olympique Safi needing two unanswered goals to progress.

Safi managed to pull one back after 75 minutes, with Senegalese substitute Moussa Kone scoring his sixth goal of the competition with a header from the back post following a corner.

However, the home side, buoyed by the majority of the 8,000-capacity crowd in the southern coastal city, struggled to create further scoring opportunities.

After an already tense first half with 10 minutes of stoppage time, an additional 20 minutes were added in the second half due to ongoing interruptions.

Players were frequently down with apparent injuries and contested many decisions made by the Rwandan referee, while bottles were thrown onto the pitch and fireworks briefly obscured the view with smoke.

USM Alger previously triumphed in the Confederation Cup in 2023 and clinched a second CAF trophy that year with a surprise victory over reigning African champions Al Ahly of Egypt in the Super Cup.

Zamalek remains the second most decorated club in CAF competitions, following their Cairo rivals Ahly, with 13 titles to their name, including two Confederation Cup victories.