Ahmed Khaldi of USM Alger celebrates goal with teammates during the CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 2nd leg Semifinal match between OC Safi and USM Alger at El Massira Stadium in Safi, Morocco on 19 April 2026 ©Nabil Ramdani/BackpagePix
Monday Apr 20, 2026. 08:58
USM Alger edged past Olympic Safi on the away goals rule on Sunday night to secure a place in the CAF Confederation Cup final.
The teams’ second-leg semifinal clash at the El Massira Stadium ended 1-1 after goals from Ahmed Khaldi for the Red and Blacks, and Moussa Kone for the Sharks – with the Algerian side coming out on top thanks to the away goals rule.
The start of the match was delayed by an hour and 20 minutes after fans invaded the pitch and scenes of rioting occurred on and off the stands.
Once underway, Olympic created the first chance as early as the fifth minute, with Youness Najari glancing a header on target, but USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbot made an excellent diving save.
Alger had a good opportunity of their own in the 12th minute, as Brahim Benzaza broke into space down the left of the penalty area, but his low shot from a tight angle was wide of the near post.
USMA’s Benbot made another impressive save just past the half-hour mark, getting fingertips to Imad Serbout’s drive from the right of the penalty area.
The best open-play chances of the first half went to the visitors in the 42nd minute, as a counter attack put Dramane Kamagate in on goal, but he was denied by goalkeeper Youssef El Motie, and Benzaza then fired over from the subsequent loose ball with only retreating defenders guarding the net.
USM Alger were then awarded a penalty – after a VAR review – in injury time before the interval, with Anas Mkhair adjudged to have handled in his own 18-yard area. Ahmed Khaldi coolly struck the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards to give the Algerian side a precious away goal.
Olympic had the chance to level the game early in the second half, but Najari was unable to beat Benbot after being teed up by substitute Moussa Kone.
However, Kone was on hand to score from close range in the 75th minute, heading home at the far post after a corner kick was flicked on by a USMA defender. With the score at 1-1, Olympic now had all the momentum on their side as they sought a decisive goal in the dying stages – which included an astonishing minimum of 19 minutes of added time – such was the constant disruption and time-wasting throughout the encounter.
However, the Moroccan hosts never managed to really create genuine attacking pressure, with the Red and Blacks holding firm in defence.
USM Alger will face Zamalek in the final, set to be played over two legs in May.
Olympic Safi (0) 1 (Kone 75’)
USM Alger (1) 1 (Khaldi 45+4’ pen)
1-1 on aggregate, USMA won on away goals
Safi: El Motie, Serbout (Atik 78’), Karmoune (Kordani 78’), Mkhair, Ferhani, Errahouli, El Bouchqali, Ngoma, El Morsli (Kone 46’), Najari (Eddaou 90+2’), Khannouss
Alger: Benbot, Radouani, Malone Junior, Dehiri, Mahrouz (Likonza 66’), Draoui, Loucif, Benzaza, Khaldi, Kamagate (Benayad 80’), Tendeng (Atmania 90+3’)