CAF Champions League: USM Alger Eye Perfect Group Stage Finish Against El Merreikh
Khartoum, Sudan – Already qualified for the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, USM Alger will look to make history on Friday as they face Sudanese giants El Merreikh in Omdurman, aiming to complete a flawless group stage campaign.
The Algerian side, known as the Red and Blacks, have enjoyed a dominant run so far, winning all five of their group matches. With a maximum of 15 points, they sit comfortably atop Group B, and a sixth consecutive victory would set a new benchmark in the club’s continental journey.
Despite travelling to Khartoum with a rotated squad, after head coach Miloud Hamdi opted to rest several key players, the team remains determined to maintain their momentum and finish the group stage unbeaten.
Speaking ahead of the match, Zinedine Ferhat, one of USMA’s standout performers, expressed the squad’s ambition to chase both a perfect record and a place in the history books.
“We’ll try to win, not just to achieve this historic record, but also to remain unbeaten – a perfect performance,” Ferhat told Algerian outlet Le Buteur. “It would be two birds with one stone: a sixth straight win and an entry into the history of this competition.”
While the result won’t affect their progression to the next stage, the symbolism and confidence boost of such a feat are not lost on the team. The club, which endured a difficult and trophyless campaign last season, is eager to re-establish its place among Africa’s elite.
Ferhat, reflecting on the broader significance of their campaign, added:
“It’s the dream of all Algerians, not just USM Alger fans. ES Sétif made us proud last season by lifting the trophy. Now, it’s our turn to try to keep it in Algeria.”
USM Alger are seeking to emulate the success of ES Sétif, who won the Champions League in 2014. For Ferhat and his teammates, lifting the trophy would represent a powerful turnaround from what he described as a “catastrophic” previous season.
“USMA is a big club that must return to where it belongs – winning titles. Our struggles last year only made us more determined to meet our goals: first reaching the semi-finals, and now we dream of the final,” he concluded.
As they prepare to take on El Merreikh, who are already eliminated from the competition, USM Alger’s focus is clear. While rotation may be necessary, the ambition remains unshaken: to continue their winning streak and send a message to future opponents that they are serious contenders for the continental crown.
