USM Alger upset Zamalek on penalties to win CAFCC

USM Alger upset Zamalek 8-7 on penalties at the Cairo International Stadium on Saturday night to win the CAF Confederation Cup final.

The match finished 1-0 in favour of the White Knights, thanks to an early penalty from Oday Dabbagh, but the tie was even at 1-1 on aggregate after USMA’s 1-0 win in the first leg in Algiers last weekend. The Algerian side then triumphed in a dramatic shootout to clinch a second CAFCC title, adding to their first in 2023.

Zamalek claimed the lead on the night and levelled the tie on aggregate within five minutes of kick-off. Adam Kaied was tripped up in the 18-yard area by Che Malone Junior, leading to a penalty kick. Dabbagh coolly slotted home from the spot to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

The White Knights were then dealt a major blow within the opening half hour when goalkeeper Al Mahdi Soliman succumbed to a knock, and was replaced by Mohamed Awad.

It’s over. USM Alger are champions. 🏆#TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/jq9SBcZhpU — TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 16, 2026

Soliman had made one notable save to keep out a long-range effort from USMA’s Islam Merili that threatened to dip under the crossbar, as the visitors enjoyed plenty of ball possession but were unable to create any kind of rhythm or sustained attacking pressure through the course of a scrappy first half.

USMA nearly found a priceless away goal early in the second half when Ahmed Khaldi was able to get a shot away from the edge of the box, but his effort was sliced wide of Awad’s right-hand post.

As the half wore on and the prospect of a penalty shootout loomed ever larger, tension continued to ratchet up for the players, fans and benches, with several flare-ups giving the already pressured match officials even more to deal with.

Zamalek were close to deciding the tie in the 85th minute when substitute Nasr Mansy got on the end of a cross from the right flank and sent a header on target, but Alger goalkeeper Oussama Benbot tipped the ball over.

Fulltime saw the tie locked at 1-1 on aggregate, proceeding directly to a penalty shootout. With Zamalek shooting first, 14 successive penalties were struck home, before the hosts’ Mohamed Shehata blazed high, allowing Glody Likonza to net from the 16th spot kick to secure glory for the team in red and black.

Zamalek (1) 1 (Dabbagh 5’ pen)

USM Alger 0

1-1 on aggregate; USM Alger won 8-7 on penalties.

Zamalek: Soliman (Awad 30’), Ismail, Hassan, Abdelmaguid, Alvina, Shehata, Fatouh (Esho 82’), El Said, Kaied (El Sayed 61’), Dabbagh (Mansy 82’), Banza (Jaziri 61’)

USMA: Benbot, Radouani, Malone Jr, Dehiri, Loucif, Benzaza (Chetti 90+2’), Merili (Linkoza 69’), Draoui, Tendeng, Kamagate (Benayad 89’), Khaldi