Algiers on the Edge: USMA Storms into CAF Confederation Cup Semis as Wydad Crashes Out

USMA reach CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals

Algiers-based USMA secured a place in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals by beating Maniema Union of the Congo 1-0 on Sunday at the 5 July Stadium, in the second leg of the quarterfinals. The visitors had won the first leg 2-1 in Congo last week, leaving the aggregate at 2-2 and setting up a tense deciding factor on away goals.

USMA progressed thanks to the away-goal rule, with Ibrahim Ben Zaza scoring the lone goal of the match in the 30th minute. Maniema also saw a late sending-off as their player Mwanda received a red card in stoppage time (90+1).

In the other quarterfinal fixture, Wydad Casablanca were eliminated by Olympique Safi after a 2-2 aggregate draw. The first leg in Safi finished 1-1, and the return leg in Casablanca ended 2-2, with Safi advancing on away goals. The drama included a red card for Wydad goalkeeper Mehdi Bennabid in the 24th minute, and decisive strikes that kept the tie in the balance until the final moments.

Safi took the lead in the second leg with Sufian Mouden’s penalty in the 40th minute, before Mohamed Mofid equalised for Wydad just before halftime (45+9). Musa Koné struck again in the 90th minute to put Safi 2-1 ahead on the night, but Hakim Ziyech’s stoppage-time goal for Wydad (90+7) offered a glimmer of hope. However, it was not enough to overturn the aggregate, and Safi advanced on away goals.

As a result, Olympique Safi will meet USMA in the semi-finals, while the other semi-final pits Zamalek against Shabab Belouzidad. The stage is set for a pair of tantalizing continental showdowns in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Punchline time: If football were a roast, today’s menu would feature a lot of dramatic pauses and a few well-timed knife jokes—because the only thing sharper than the needle on the scoreboard is the commentator’s wit. Punchline 2: The ball has more escape plans than half the players, but hey, it always finds the back of the net… eventually.