Coach Lamine Ndiaye during the CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 2nd Leg Final USM Alger Training at Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on 15 May 2026 ©Mostafa Emira/BackpagePix
Saturday May 16, 2026. 11:04
USM Alger head coach Lamine N’Diaye insists they have no intention of just turtling against Zamalek in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final on Saturday.
USMA ran out narrow 1-0 victors in the first leg at the Stade du 5 Juillet last weekend after the White Knights were denied a late winner by a controversial VAR review which saw the hosts awarded a penalty instead.
Ahmed Khaldi scored from the spot in the 98th minute to give N’Diaye’s side a slender advantage to take to the Cairo International Stadium, which is expected to packed for the decider.
N’Diaye anticipates the Egyptian giants will pose a completely different challenge in front of a partisan home crowd, but he has no plans to defend his team’s one-goal lead in the tie.
“The first leg was extremely difficult and this second match will be even harder,” the Senegalese tactician said in his pre-match press conference.
“We are facing a very strong team that is competing for the Egyptian league title against Al Ahly and Pyramids, the last two African Champions League winners. That alone tells you the level of this Zamalek side.
“Zamalek are not a team that depends only on individual quality. They work very well collectively and that makes them dangerous.
“My philosophy never changes. I always want my teams to play to win and score goals. Of course, we must remain balanced between defence and attack, but we did not come here only to defend.”