Following a goalless draw in the first leg held in Ivory Coast, USM Alger from Algeria are the frontrunners to advance as they host ASEC Mimosas, the champions of Ivory Coast, for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semifinal at the Stade 5 du Juillet in Algiers.
In the first leg, USMA adopted a defensive approach, compacting their defense and frustrating ASEC’s attempts to score. ASEC, unable to find the back of the net at home, understand the difficulty of their task in Algeria but also recognize that an away goal could change the entire dynamic.
Despite suffering three consecutive losses recently, USM Alger is in high spirits due to their proximity to competing for a continental trophy. Head coach Abdelhak Benchikha’s wealth of experience remains crucial, as evident from his team’s accomplished performance in Ivory Coast.
Benchikha expressed satisfaction with the team’s unity and their shared goal of winning the competition. With the approval of Algeria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports to sell an additional 20,000 tickets, USMA can rely on the support of up to 60,000 passionate fans at the Stade 5 du Juillet.
USMA will depend on several players who represented Algeria in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) earlier this year. Striker Aymen Mahious, the tournament’s leading scorer, is the most renowned among them.
Zineddine Belaid will provide defensive leadership from the center-back position, while Oussama Chita stands out in midfield. Right-back Saadi Radouani continues to play a vital role, having scored in both legs of the quarterfinal triumph over Morocco’s ASFAR. In a match that could be decided by slim margins, USMA’s proficiency in scoring from set pieces is an aspect worth considering for both teams.
ASEC may feel they squandered an opportunity to capitalize on their dominance in the first leg and favorable conditions. Karamoko Sankara had a goal disallowed for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbout made crucial saves to preserve a clean sheet.
ASEC head coach Julien Chevalier exuded optimism, describing the match as a “50-50” contest. Building on their control in the first leg, ASEC will approach the second leg with an attacking mindset, aiming to secure an away goal that could prove decisive in case of a scoring draw in Algiers.
The experience of ASEC’s defense, led by defender Wonlo Coulibaly and goalkeeper Charles Folly, will be crucial. Folly impressed at the CHAN tournament with Ivory Coast, even in a knockout stage defeat against Algeria in a hostile environment.
ASEC’s attacking performance will be pivotal as it has shown inconsistency at this level. Sankara displayed a hunger to shine in the previous week’s match and will receive support from wide attacker Aubin Kramo and Paçome Zouzoua, while Mohamed Zougrana and veteran Essis Aka contribute defensive solidity from midfield positions.
