CAF Cup: USMA, a two-legged clash on their home ground!

Oct 15, 2026

USM Alger will finally play both matches of its second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup at the 5-July Stadium. This decision has been approved by CAF, giving a significant advantage to the Red and Black.

USM Alger will benefit from a rather unusual advantage for its entry into the CAF Confederation Cup. CAF has agreed that the double confrontation against Equatorial Guinea's The Panthers, for the second preliminary round, will take place entirely at the 5-July Stadium in Algiers. This request was made jointly by USMA and the FAF.

Initially, the first leg was set to take place in Douala, Cameroon. It will now be held on Tuesday, October 20 at 20:00 at the 5-July Stadium. The return match is scheduled at the same venue on Sunday, October 25 at 20:00. Both matches will therefore take place in front of the Algiers crowd, which undeniably represents a serious advantage for the Red and Black.

As the reigning champions following their continental triumph in 2026, USMA was exempt from the first preliminary round. Its opponent, The Panthers FC, had to go through this phase. The Equatorial Guineans caused a surprise against ASPAC FC: after losing 3-1 at home in the first leg, they turned the tide by winning 4-2 in Benin.

The objective is now clear for USMA: to take advantage of these two matches in Algiers to secure qualification for the group stage. Meanwhile, CR Belouizdad will also begin its continental campaign this week against AS Douanes of Nouakchott, with an away match in Mauritania followed by the return in Algiers.

DZfoot