CAF Confederation Cup: USM Alger 0–0 Olympic Club de Safi

USM Alger and Olympic Club de Safi fought themselves to a tense, goalless first-leg stalemate in Algiers.

Backed by a loud 22,000 crowd at Stade du 5 Juillet, USMA spent long spells probing patiently, moving the ball side to side and trying to drag Safi’s compact back five out of shape.

Chances did come in the clash. Ahmed Khaldi and Houssam Ghacha both forced Hamza Hamiani Akbi into saves, while Zakaria Draoui twice arrived late on the edge of the box only to see efforts blocked by brave defending. Safi, disciplined and stubborn, waited for their moments on the break and nearly stole an away goal through Moussa Koné after the interval, but Che Malone’s covering tackle snuffed out the danger.

As legs tired, the substitutions on both sides underlined the fear of conceding rather than a desperation to win.

In the end, the 0–0 scoreline leaves everything finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Safi on Sunday 19 April, where one moment of quality could decide who reaches the CAF Confederation Cup final.