Kheireddine Madoui, the mastermind behind CS Constantine’s gritty campaign, guided his squad to a thrilling African Confederation Cup semi-final berth after outlasting USM Alger in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
The victory, sealed on Wednesday, sparked wild celebrations as Constantine edged their Algerian rivals 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, mirroring the first leg’s result.
Madoui said in televised statements, “I congratulate all the components of the club on this historic qualification. We were the better side, we created many opportunities throughout the two halves and controlled the strengths of our competitor, who is considered one of the major clubs on the continent.”
“USM Alger did not control the ball and scored a goal against us through an individual mistake, but we did not give up. I thank the players who believed in their abilities until the last penalty kick taken by Bouguerra. I believe that luck was on our side after letting us down in many previous matches.”
Madoui’s bold call to bring on substitute goalkeeper Kheireddine Boussouf for the shootout paid off, the veteran’s experience shining through. He also praised regular keeper Zakaria Bouhalfaia, who stopped a penalty in the first leg. Now, Madoui sets his sights on Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane, a formidable foe with a storied history in the competition. Despite the daunting challenge, Constantine’s resolve remains unshaken.
