Friday Apr 10, 2026. 12:52
There are just four teams left standing in the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup as USM Alger and Zamalek bid for title honours once more.
The first-leg ties of the semi-finals take place this weekend, starting with the clash between CR Belouizdad and Zamalek at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Friday.
The Reds are featuring in this stage of the competition for the first time after overcoming Al Masry on away goals in the quarter-finals.
Lofti Boussouar’s all-important 91st-minute equaliser at the Suez Stadium on March 14 clinched a 1-1 draw to see them progress following a goalless stalemate on home soil seven days later.
The White Knights won the trophy for a second time in 2024 and they are viewed as one of the favourites again after beating AS Otoho 3-2 on aggregate in the last eight.
Moatemed Gamal’s side also scored an away goal in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat on March 14 and they ran out 2-1 victors at the Cairo International Stadium the following weekend.
Then on Saturday, debutants Olympic Safi will look to spring another surprise when they lock horns with USM Alger at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers.
The Sharks dumped African giants Wydad Casablanca out of the competition in the previous round on away goals, having held on for a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stade Mohammed V on March 22 after an El Medhi Benabid own-goal on 86 minutes rescued a 1-1 draw at the El Massira Stadium seven days earlier.
USMA, whose solitary title came in 2023, also relied on away goals to get past Maniema Union in the quarters, with Ahmed Khaldi’s 53rd-minute penalty in a 2-1 defeat on March 15 keeping them in the tie before they triumphed 1-0 in the Algerian capital seven days later.
CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first-leg fixtures:
Friday, April 10
21h00: CR Belouizdad v Zamalek
Saturday, April 11
18h00: USM Alger v Olympic Safi