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2026 CAF Confederation Cup final

The 2026 CAF Confederation Cup final was the two-legged final of the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup, the 23rd season of the CAF Confederation Cup and the 51st as Africa's secondary club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), contested by USM Alger from Algeria and Zamalek from Egypt.[1][2]

2026 CAF Confederation Cup final
Promotional banner
Event2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup
USM Alger Zamalek
Algeria Egypt
1 1
USM Alger won 8–7 on penalties
First leg
USM Alger Zamalek
1 0
Date9 May 2026 (2026-05-09)
VenueStade du 5 Juillet, Algiers
RefereeDahane Beida
Attendance50,000
WeatherCloudy
19 °C (66 °F)
79% humidity
Second leg
Zamalek USM Alger
1 0
Date16 May 2026 (2026-05-16)
VenueCairo International Stadium, Cairo
RefereePierre Atcho
Attendance46,200
WeatherClear weather
29 °C (84 °F)
29% humidity
← 2025
2027 →

The final finished 1–1 on aggregate, with USM Alger winning 8–7 on penalties for their second CAF Confederation Cup title. The winners earned the right to play in the 2026 CAF Super Cup.

Teams

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Team Zone Previous finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Algeria USM Alger UNAF (North Africa) 1 (2023)
Egypt Zamalek UNAF (North Africa) 2 (2019, 2024)

Venues

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Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers, Algeria, hosted first leg.
Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, hosted the second leg.

Road to the final

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Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Algeria USM Alger Round Egypt Zamalek
Opponent Agg 1st leg 2nd leg Qualifying rounds Opponent Agg 1st leg 2nd leg
Bye First round Bye
Ivory Coast AFAD Djékanou 3–1 0–1 (A) 3–0 (H) Second round Somalia Dekedaha 7–0 6–0 (A) 1–0 (H)
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
Ivory Coast San Pédro 3–2 (H) Matchday 1 Zambia ZESCO United 1–0 (H)
Morocco Olympic Safi 1–0 (A) Matchday 2 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs 1–1 (A)
Mali Djoliba 2–0 (H) Matchday 3 Egypt Al Masry 0–0 (H)
Mali Djoliba 0–0 (A) Matchday 4 Egypt Al Masry 2–1 (A)
Ivory Coast San Pédro 3–2 (A) Matchday 5 Zambia ZESCO United 0–1 (A)
Morocco Olympic Safi 0–0 (H) Matchday 6 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs 2–1 (H)
Group A winners
Pos Team
 Pld Pts
1 Algeria USM Alger 6 14
2 Morocco Olympic Safi 6 13
3 Mali Djoliba 6 4
4 Ivory Coast San Pédro 6 3
Source: CAF
 Final standings Group D winners
Pos Team
 Pld Pts
1 Egypt Zamalek 6 11
2 Egypt Al Masry 6 10
3 South Africa Kaizer Chiefs 6 10
4 Zambia ZESCO United 6 3
Source: CAF
Opponent Agg 1st leg 2nd leg Knockout stage Opponent Agg 1st leg 2nd leg
Democratic Republic of the Congo Maniema Union 2–2 (a) 1–2 (A) 1–0 (H) Quarter-finals Republic of the Congo AS Otohô 3–2 1–1 (A) 2–1 (H)
Morocco Olympic Safi 1–1 (a) 0–0 (H) 1–1 (A) Semi-finals Algeria CR Belouizdad 1–0 1–0 (A) 0–0 (H)

Format

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The final is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis.

If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, extra time would not be played, and a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winners.

Matches

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First leg

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In the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final at the Stade du 5 Juillet, USM Alger secured a narrow but valuable 1–0 victory over Zamalek SC after a dramatic and hard-fought encounter. As expected, the Algerian side faced a highly experienced opponent accustomed to major continental matches. Despite the electric atmosphere created by the packed crowd at the Stade du 5 Juillet, Zamalek showed composure and tactical discipline throughout the game. Although USMA enjoyed more possession and attacking pressure, they repeatedly lacked precision and efficiency in the final third against a well organized Egyptian defense.[3][4][5]

Zamalek also threatened on several counterattacks, particularly through Angolan forward Chico Banza. The visitors came closest to scoring in the 52nd minute when Banza lobbed goalkeeper Benbot, only for Hocine Dehiri to clear the ball almost off the goal line. Meanwhile, USMA continued to push forward through players such as Brahim Benzaza, Kamagaté, and Ahmed Khaldi, but failed to convert their chances for most of the match.[3][4][5]

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. In the 90+2nd minute, Bezerra appeared to have scored for Zamalek following a rapid counterattack, but Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida consulted VAR and ruled out the goal for a prior foul by Mahmoud Bentayg on Rayane Mahrouz inside the penalty area. Bentayg was sent off, and a penalty was awarded to USMA. Khaldi calmly converted the spot kick to hand the Algerian side a dramatic late victory, sparking huge celebrations inside the stadium.[3][4][5]

Details

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USM Alger Algeria1–0Egypt Zamalek
 Report
Attendance: 50,000
USM Alger
Zamalek
GK25Algeria Oussama BenbotYellow card 90+6'
CB4Cameroon Che MaloneYellow card 81'
CB13Algeria Hocine Dehiri
RB19Algeria Saâdi Radouani (c)Yellow card 45'
LB12Algeria Haithem LoucifYellow card 17'
DM6Algeria Zakaria Draoui
DM14Algeria Brahim Benzazadownward-facing red arrow 86'
AM8Algeria Islam Merili
AM30Senegal Aimé Tendengdownward-facing red arrow 73'
ST7Algeria Ahmed Khaldi
ST29Ivory Coast Dramane Kamagatédownward-facing red arrow 73'
Substitutes:
GK16Algeria Kamel Soufi
CB3Algeria Safieddine Atmania
RB20Algeria Rayane Mahrouzupward-facing green arrow 86'
LB23Algeria Ilyes Chetti
AM11Democratic Republic of the Congo Glody Likonzaupward-facing green arrow 73'
DM26Algeria Omar Boularas
LW22Algeria Moncif Boutaoui
RW24Algeria Mohamed Bouderbalaupward-facing green arrow 73'
ST9Algeria Riad Benayad
Manager :
Senegal Lamine N'Diaye
GK37Egypt El Mahdy Soliman
DF5Egypt Hossam AbdelmaguidYellow card 90+6'
DF28Egypt Mahmoud Hamdy
DF24Egypt Mohamed Ismail
DF3Morocco Mahmoud BentaygYellow card 90+6' Yellow-red card 90+6'
MF13Egypt Ahmed Fatouhdownward-facing red arrow 86'
MF17Egypt Mohamed Shehata (c)
MF18Palestine Adam Kaieddownward-facing red arrow 73'
MF19Egypt Abdallah El Said
FW32Angola Chico BanzaYellow card 88'downward-facing red arrow 90+7'
FW27Palestine Oday Dabbaghdownward-facing red arrow 86'
Substitutes:
GK1Egypt Mohamed Awad
DF34Egypt Mohamed Ibrahim
MF11Egypt Ahmed Abdel Rahimupward-facing green arrow 90+7'
MF12Egypt Ahmed Rabieupward-facing green arrow 86'
MF26Egypt El Sayed Osama
FW9Egypt Nasser Mansi
FW30Tunisia Seifeddine Jaziri
FW31Egypt Ahmed Sherifupward-facing green arrow 86'
FW33Brazil Juan Alvinaupward-facing green arrow 73'
Manager:
Egypt Motamed Gamal

Assistant referees:
Ivanildo Lopes (Angola)
Elvis Noupoue (Cameroon)
Fourth official:
Abdelaziz Bouh (Mauritania)
Video assistant referee:
Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Babacar Sarr (Mauritania)
Dickens Nyagrowa (Kenya)

 Match rules
  • 90 minutes.
  • Nine named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.[note 1]

Statistics

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Second leg

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USM Alger claimed their second ever CAF Confederation Cup title after defeating Zamalek 8–7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Cairo International Stadium. Zamalek won the second leg 1–0 thanks to an early penalty from Oday Dabbagh, leveling the aggregate score at 1–1 after USM Alger’s first-leg victory in Algiers. Despite strong pressure from the Egyptian side, USM Alger remained composed and pushed for an equalizer, with Ahmed Khaldi creating several dangerous chances throughout the match. The game eventually went to a tense penalty shootout where both teams converted their first seven attempts. The decisive moment came when Mohamed Shehata missed Zamalek’s eighth penalty by firing over the bar.[7]

Substitute Glody Likonza then calmly converted the winning kick to secure the trophy for the Algerian club. Goalkeeper Oussama Benbot also played a crucial role, especially with a late save from Nasser Mansi that kept USM Alger alive before penalties. The victory earned USM Alger a record prize of USD 4 million and qualification for the CAF Super Cup, where they will face either Mamelodi Sundowns or AS FAR. Coach Lamine N'Diaye added another continental success to his career as the club further strengthened its place in African football history.[7]

Details

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Zamalek
USM Alger
GK37Egypt El Mahdy Solimandownward-facing red arrow 30'
DF5Egypt Hossam Abdelmaguid
DF34Egypt Mohamed Ibrahim
DF24Egypt Mahmoud Hamdy
DF13Egypt Ahmed Fatouh (c)downward-facing red arrow 82'
MF17Egypt Mohamed Shehata
MF18Palestine Adam Kaieddownward-facing red arrow 61'
MF19Egypt Abdallah El SaidYellow card 64'
FW32Angola Chico Banzadownward-facing red arrow 61'
FW33Brazil Juan Alvina
FW27Palestine Oday Dabbaghdownward-facing red arrow 82'
Substitutes:
GK1Egypt Mohamed Awadupward-facing green arrow 30'
DF28Egypt Mahmoud Hamdy
MF11Egypt Ahmed Abdel Rahimupward-facing green arrow 82'
MF12Egypt Ahmed Rabie
MF26Egypt El Sayed Osama
MF39Egypt Mohamed El Sayedupward-facing green arrow 61'
FW9Egypt Nasser Mansiupward-facing green arrow 82'
FW30Tunisia Seifeddine Jaziriupward-facing green arrow 61'
FW31Egypt Ahmed Sherif
Manager:
Egypt Motamed Gamal
GK25Algeria Oussama Benbot
CB4Cameroon Che Malone
CB13Algeria Hocine DehiriYellow card 45+6'
RB19Algeria Saâdi Radouani (c)
LB12Algeria Haithem Loucif
DM6Algeria Zakaria Draoui
DM14Algeria Brahim Benzazadownward-facing red arrow 90+2'
AM8Algeria Islam Merilidownward-facing red arrow 69'
AM30Senegal Aimé Tendeng
ST7Algeria Ahmed Khaldi
ST29Ivory Coast Dramane Kamagatédownward-facing red arrow 89'
Substitutes:
GK16Algeria Kamel Soufi
LB2Algeria Walid Kourdi
CB3Algeria Safieddine Atmania
RB20Algeria Rayane Mahrouz
LB23Algeria Ilyes Chettiupward-facing green arrow 90+2'
AM11Democratic Republic of the Congo Glody Likonzaupward-facing green arrow 69'
DM26Algeria Omar Boularas
RW24Algeria Mohamed Bouderbala
ST9Algeria Riad Benayadupward-facing green arrow 89'
Manager :
Senegal Lamine N'Diaye

Assistant referees:
Boris Ditsoga (Gabon)
Amos Abeigne (Gabon)
Fourth official:
Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon)
Video assistant referee:
Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Maria River (Mauritius)[9]
Carine Fomo (Cameroon)[9]

 Match rules

Statistics

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See also

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Notes

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  1. 1 2 Each team was only given three opportunities to make substitutions, excluding substitutions made at half-time.

References

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