USM Alger and ASEC Mimosas shared the spoils in their CAF Confederation Cup Group C clash on Sunday, playing out a 1-1 draw at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers.
The visitors, ASEC Mimosas, drew first blood in the 31st minute when Salifou Diarrassouba found the back of the net with a well-placed effort.
The Ivorian side held firm to their advantage for much of the game, frustrating the Algerian champions with disciplined defending.
However, USM Alger rallied in the second half and found their equaliser through Mohamed Benmaazouz in the 71st minute. The home side pressed for a winner in the closing stages but could not break through ASEC’s resilient backline.
The result leaves USM Alger atop the Group C standings with eight points, three clear of both ASEC Mimosas and Graf de Dakar, who registered a narrow 1-0 win over Oraba United earlier in the day. Botswana’s Oraba United remain at the bottom of the group with two points.
With two rounds of group matches remaining, the draw boosts USM Alger’s hopes of securing a place in the knockout stages, while ASEC Mimosas will need strong performances in their remaining games to keep their qualification ambitions alive.
