USM Alger booked their place in the CAF Confederation Cup final after battling to a 1-1 draw away to Olympique de Safi in a dramatic and disrupted semi-final second leg on Sunday night.

The result handed the Algerian side progression on away goals following a goalless first leg in Algiers, ending Safi’s historic run at the semi-final stage.

The decisive encounter in Safi was overshadowed early on by crowd disturbances involving visiting supporters, forcing a delay of one hour and 20 minutes before kick-off. Despite the chaotic build-up, both sides delivered a high-intensity contest befitting the stakes.

USM Alger struck a crucial blow just before half-time when Ahmed Khaldi calmly converted a penalty deep into stoppage time, putting the visitors ahead and firmly in control of the tie.

The opening half was played at a relentless pace, with both teams combining for 17 shots — one of the highest first-half tallies in this season’s tournament. Olympique Safi, backed by their home crowd, created the bulk of the chances but were repeatedly frustrated in front of goal.

The Moroccan side’s persistence eventually paid off in the 75th minute when substitute Moussa Koné rose highest to head home an equaliser, sparking hopes of a late comeback.

However, Safi were unable to find the decisive second goal. Despite registering an impressive 41 attempts across both legs, they managed just one goal against a disciplined and well-organised USM Alger defence that held firm under sustained pressure in the closing stages.

The result marks a significant milestone for USM Alger, who reached the Confederation Cup final for the second time in their history, becoming the first Algerian club to do so twice after lifting the trophy in the 2022/23 season.

For Olympique Safi, the exit is bittersweet. They leave the competition unbeaten in their last five matches but are undone by inefficiency in front of goal. Their run of five consecutive draws sets a record in a single edition of the tournament — a testament to their resilience, but also their missed opportunities.

USM Alger will now face Zamalek SC in what promises to be a thrilling final, after the Egyptian giants advanced past CR Belouizdad.

The first leg of the final is scheduled to take place in Algeria next month, with the return leg in Cairo a week later, setting the stage for a compelling battle between two continental heavyweights.

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The CAF Confederation Cup semi-final second leg between Olympique de Safi and USM Alger descended into chaos on Sunday evening after a pitch invasion by visiting supporters forced a significant delay to kick-off at the Al Massira Stadium.

Originally scheduled for 8:00 p.m., the decisive encounter eventually began at 9:20 p.m., following a 1-hour and 20-minute disruption caused by crowd trouble attributed to sections of the Algerian supporters.

Disorder Before Kick-off

Tensions escalated just minutes before kick-off when a large number of fans surged onto the pitch, overwhelming security personnel and creating scenes of confusion inside the stadium.

A sea of red as Algerian supporters invade the pitch

Eyewitnesses reported that the disorder began in the section occupied by visiting supporters, with acts of hooliganism including the throwing of chairs and attacks directed at local fans and members of the press.

The situation quickly deteriorated, forcing match officials and players from both teams to abandon the field as safety concerns took precedence.

Teams React as Calm Is Restored

While Olympique de Safi players maintained their warm-up routines amid the uncertainty, their Algerian counterparts retreated to the dressing room and were slow to return to the pitch even after order was gradually restored.

Officials from the Confederation of African Football intervened, with the match security commissioner ultimately confirming the revised kick-off time.

USM Alger players only re-emerged close to 9:00 p.m., raising questions among observers about the visitors’ approach in the aftermath of the disturbances.

A Night Meant for History Disrupted

For Olympique de Safi, the fixture represented one of the most significant matches in the club’s history, marking a remarkable run in their debut continental campaign.

However, the focus shifted from football to security management, as organisers battled to regain control of the stadium and ensure conditions were safe for play.

Witnesses described the incident as unprecedented at the venue, with the scale of the pitch invasion disrupting pre-match preparations and creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.

CAF Set to Act

The Confederation of African Football is expected to open a formal review into the incidents, with disciplinary measures likely to follow.

Sunday’s events have reignited concerns about crowd control and supporter behaviour in high-stakes continental fixtures, echoing previous disturbances seen in major African competitions.

For Moroccan football authorities and fans alike, the hope is that firm action will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such scenes and to protect the integrity of the game.

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Egyptian giants Zamalek qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup final after a 0-0 draw with Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria in Friday’s semi-final second leg, ensuring a 1-0 aggregate triumph.

Zamalek won the ​away leg in Algiers last ⁠week.

The Cairo club did have ​the ball in the net in ​the first half of the return when Palestinian striker Oday Dabbagh thought he ​had opened the scoring, but ​a VAR review found the Egyptians were offside.

Zamalek ‌have ⁠won the Confederation Cup twice, in 2019 and 2024, and will be chasing a ninth continental ​title in ​next ⁠month’s two-legged final, where they take on either ​USM Alger or Morocco’s Olympic ​Safi, ⁠who play the second leg of their semi-final on Sunday. The ⁠first ​leg in Algeria ​last weekend ended goalless.

-Reuters

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