Algerian club USM Alger claimed their second CAF Confederation Cup title on Saturday, beating Egypt's Zamalek 8–7 on penalties in Cairo after the two-legged final ended level on aggregate at 1–1. The result sparked widespread celebrations among Algerian fans both inside Cairo International Stadium and across Algiers.
USM Alger had arrived in Egypt holding a narrow 1–0 advantage from the first leg — a lead secured through a controversial stoppage-time penalty in Algiers. The atmosphere at the Cairo International Stadium was electric and hostile, and the home side wasted little time in cancelling out that deficit. Within just five minutes, Zamalek striker Oday Dabbagh converted a penalty after a foul in the box, levelling the tie on aggregate and handing the Egyptian club the momentum — and the crowd — firmly on their side.
What followed was a scrappy, physically demanding contest. The first half was disrupted by fouls, rough play and injuries — including to Zamalek's first-choice goalkeeper El Mahdi Soliman, who was forced off at around the half-hour mark and replaced by Mohamed Awad, originally the club's third-choice keeper at the start of the season. The second half opened up somewhat, with USM Alger growing into the game and creating the clearer opportunities. Winger Ahmed Khaldi — who had scored the decisive goal in the first leg — twice came close to breaking the deadlock, first curling an effort narrowly past the post, then firing over from a well-worked move. Zamalek managed just two shots on target across the entire ninety minutes.
With the aggregate score still level, the tie moved to a penalty shootout of remarkable quality. Both sides converted their first seven kicks with precision and composure before Zamalek's Mohamed Shehata blazed the eighth attempt into the stands. Congolese midfielder Glody Likonza then stepped up to convert the winning kick, sending USM Alger's supporters into rapture despite a despairing dive from Awad.
The victory completes a remarkable end to the season for the Algiers-based club, who had also won the Algerian Cup just two weeks earlier. It is their second CAF Confederation Cup triumph, following their inaugural title in 2023, cementing their status as one of African club football's emerging continental forces.