USM Alger to play both CAF Confederation Cup legs at home

USM Alger will begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Equatorial Guinea’s The Panthers on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, with both legs of the second preliminary round tie being played in Algeria.

The first leg will take place at the 5 July 1962 Stadium in Algiers, giving the Algerian side home advantage from the outset. The kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 Algeria time, which is 21:00 in France.

BeIN Sports Mena is expected to broadcast the match.

The return fixture will also be staged at the 5 July 1962 Stadium. It has been scheduled for Sunday, 25 October, with the same 20:00 kick-off time in Algeria.

The unusual arrangement means USM Alger will avoid a trip to Central Africa and will play both matches in front of their own supporters.

The first leg was originally due to be held in Douala, in neighbouring Cameroon. However, the Confederation of African Football accepted a joint request from USM Alger and the Algerian Football Federation to move both fixtures to the same venue in Algiers.

No specific reason has been given for the change.

The decision places USM Alger in a particularly favourable position as they enter the competition. Rather than travelling abroad for the opening match and then hosting the return, the Rouge et Noir will have home surroundings for the entirety of the tie.

USM Alger’s continental experience also makes them the expected favourites. The club won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2023 and have regularly competed on the African stage.

The Panthers have less experience in continental football, but USM Alger will still be expected to approach the tie carefully. The Equatorial Guinean team will have little to lose and could attempt to upset the predictions over the two matches.

For USM Alger, the target is straightforward: make full use of their two home fixtures to secure qualification for the group stage and continue their attempt to return to the highest levels of the competition.