USM ALGER DEFEAT ZAMALEK SC ON PENALTIES TO WIN CAF CONFEDERATION CUP
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By: Muftau Fatimo
USM Alger defeated Zamalek SC 8-7 on penalties in Cairo on Saturday to lift the CAF Confederation Cup for the second time.
Zamalek had forced the match into penalties after securing a 1-0 victory in the second leg of the final, with Palestinian striker Oday Dabbagh scoring from the spot in the fifth minute to level the aggregate score at 1-1.
USM Alger had earlier claimed a 1-0 win in the first leg last weekend through a stoppage-time penalty converted by Ahmed Khaldi.
In the ensuing shootout, both sides converted their opening seven penalties before stand-in Zamalek captain Mohamed Shehata fired his effort over the bar.
Before taking his kick, Shehata struggled to place the ball on the penalty spot, then USM goalkeeper Oussama Benbot came forward from his goal line to further delay the kick.
The next USM penalty fell to Congolese substitute Glody Likonza, and he scored with a kick into the left corner that goalkeeper Mohamed Awad got his fingertips to, but could not stop.
USM also won the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League in 2023, pipping Young Africans of Tanzania on away goals.
It was the first Confederation Cup final failure for Zamalek after two triumphs over Moroccan Renaissance Berkane.
The first in 2019 was won on penalties, and the second in 2024 on away goals.
USM Alger became the first club to win the CAF Confederation Cup final after carrying a 1-0 advantage into the second leg.
Previous finalists, including Dolphins FC, Club Africain and RS Berkane, had failed to defend similar slim leads in past title deciders.
The return leg between Zamalek SC and USM Alger was largely scrappy, with several stoppages caused by injuries and repeated arguments with the Gabonese referee over some of his decisions.
Barely two minutes into the match, Cameroonian defender Che Malone fouled Palestinian midfielder Adam Kaied, but protests from players delayed the penalty kick for an additional three minutes.
Dabbagh, who joined Zamalek last year after a loan spell at Aberdeen, remained calm and sent Benbot the wrong way to restore overall equality.
Zamalek had the ball in the net again after 15 minutes, but a headed goal from Juan Bezerra was ruled offside. The Brazilian also had a goal disallowed in the first leg.
USM pocketed a Confederation Cup record 2 million.
The Algerian club also qualifies for a one-off CAF Super Cup match against the winners of the CAF Champions League, either Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa or FAR Rabat of Morocco.
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