USM Alger have secured a place in the CAF Confederation Cup final after a tense 1–1 draw away to Olympique Safi on Sunday night, advancing on the away goals rule following a tightly contested semi-final tie.
The Algerian side progressed after the first leg in Algiers ended goalless, with Ahmed Khaldi’s first-half penalty in Morocco proving decisive in separating both teams across the two legs.
The second-leg encounter was delayed for over an hour due to crowd disturbances, creating a charged atmosphere before the match eventually got underway. Once play began, both sides delivered an intense and physical contest.
USM Alger struck at a crucial moment just before half-time when Khaldi calmly converted from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, giving the visitors the advantage and control of the tie.
Olympique Safi dominated large spells of the match and created numerous chances, but struggled with their finishing despite their attacking pressure.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when substitute Moussa Koné rose highest to head home an equaliser, keeping the Moroccan side’s hopes alive.
However, Safi could not find the second goal they needed to turn the tie around. Despite registering 41 shots across both legs, they were limited to just one goal by a disciplined USM Alger defence.
The Algerian club remained compact in the closing stages, absorbing pressure effectively to protect their advantage and confirm qualification.
The result marks USM Alger’s second appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup final, making them the first Algerian club to reach the final twice in the competition’s history, having won the title in the 2022–23 season.
Olympique Safi exit the tournament unbeaten in their last five matches, with five consecutive draws highlighting both their resilience and missed opportunities throughout the campaign.
USM Alger will now face Egypt’s Zamalek SC in the final, with the first leg set to take place in Algeria next month before the return leg in Cairo a week later.
The showdown promises a tightly contested battle between two experienced continental sides as they compete for the CAF Confederation Cup title.
