USM Alger Head to Bamako Weakened but Confident for CAF Champions League Clash
USM Alger travel to Bamako this weekend for a decisive second-leg encounter against AS Kaloum in the CAF Champions League round of 16, aiming to secure their place in the group stage. Despite carrying a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Algiers, the Algerian side faces the return leg with a significantly depleted squad.
According to APS, USMA will be without four key players for the match. Defender Rabie Meftah is suspended, while Hocine El Orfi, Farouk Chafai, and star winger Youcef Belaïli are sidelined through injury. These absences could test the depth and resilience of the squad in what promises to be a high-stakes clash.
There is, however, some positive news for the visitors. First-choice goalkeeper Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche, who was previously a doubt due to injury, has recovered and is available for selection. His presence should bring added stability and experience at the back.
The match itself has been relocated to Bamako’s Modibo Keïta Stadium in Mali due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Guinea, which has forced AS Kaloum to play their home fixtures outside the country.
Despite the absences, USM Alger remain optimistic. The one-goal cushion from the first leg gives the Algerian champions a slight edge, but they will need to remain focused and composed against a determined Kaloum side seeking a comeback on neutral ground.
A place in the lucrative group stage awaits the winner—USM Alger know what’s at stake, and even with a weakened squad, they will be determined to finish the job.
