CAF Confederation Cup: USM Alger defeat Zamalek In dramatic shootout to lift trophy

Algerian club USM Alger defeated Egyptian side Zamalek SC 8-7 on penalties in Cairo on Saturday to win the CAF Confederation Cup for the second time.

Zamalek won the second leg 1-0 after Palestinian striker Oday Dabbagh scored a penalty in the fifth minute, making the total score 1-1 on aggregate.

USM Alger had won the first leg 1-0 last weekend thanks to a late penalty scored by Ahmed Khaldi.

During the penalty shootout, both teams scored their first seven penalties. However, stand-in Zamalek captain Mohamed Shehata missed his kick by shooting over the bar.

Before taking the penalty, Shehata struggled to place the ball properly on the spot, while USM goalkeeper Oussama Benbot also delayed the kick by stepping forward from his goal line.

The winning penalty was scored by Congolese substitute Glody Likonza, whose shot went into the left corner despite Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Awad getting a hand to it.

USM Alger previously won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2023 after beating Young Africans S.C. on away goals.

This was the first time Zamalek lost a Confederation Cup final after previously winning titles against RS Berkane in 2019 and 2024.

USM Alger also became the first club to successfully defend a 1-0 first-leg advantage in a Confederation Cup final.

The match was tense and physical, with several stoppages caused by injuries and arguments with the referee.

Zamalek thought they had scored again after 15 minutes through Brazilian forward Juan Bezerra, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

USM Alger earned a record $2 million prize for winning the competition.

The Algerian club will now face either Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. or AS FAR in the CAF Super Cup.