A 1-0 CAF Confederation Cup second leg victory in Algiers for Tanzanian champions Young Africans was not quite enough as Algeria’s USM Alger secured their first ever continental trophy on Saturday. The teams were left tied 2-2 on the aggregate score but USMA won on the away goal rule courtesy of a 2-1 first leg victory in Dar es Salaam. A penalty kick from Djuma Shabani inside the opening ten minutes provided the only goal of the match for Yanga who came just short of stunning the home supporters in Algeria.
USMA supporters turned out in large numbers with plenty of passion but their team got off to a tense start and allowed Yanga back into the tie. In the 7th minute an early cross from Shabani on the right wing was intended for Kennedy Musonda but the Zambian attacker was shoved from behind and Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida awarded a penalty kick. The spot kick from Shabani was perfect with the Congolese defender placing the ball into the top corner past USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbout.
Yanga could have snatched the aggregate advantage in the 34th minute but a brilliant tackle from USMA central defender Adem Alilet arrived just in time to poke the ball away before striker Fiston Mayele could fire on goal. Young Africans keeper Djigui Diarra was at his best, doing well to handle a low shot created by a clever USMA set piece just before halftime. The Malian shot stopper kept Yanga in the match once again close to the hour mark when he denied a penalty kick from USMA captain Zineddine Belaid following a foul in the penalty area.
However the Yanga attack was limited even after the introduction of offensive substitutions Bernard Morrison and Stephane Aziz Ki. Star striker Mayele was starved of service in the second half and his desperate long range blast in second half stoppage time was the closest Yanga came to an equalizer. A chaotic match that saw multiple interruptions due to smoke from flares and firecrackers thrown by USMA supporters ended favorably for the Algerian side despite their underwhelming attacking performance.
Highlights from the final are below.
