USMA Win CAF Confederation Cup After Penalty Shootout Against Zamalek

With CAF increasing prize money this year, USMA leaves the competition with a record $4 million prize.

USM Alger is celebrating another continental title after a tense and emotional night in Cairo. The Capital club defeated Zamalek 8-7 on penalties on Saturday to win the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, after the final ended 1-1 on aggregate across both legs.

More than 50,000 fans packed into Cairo International Stadium for the second leg.

Zamalek came into the match needing to erase a one-goal deficit after losing 1-0 in Algiers, where Ahmed Khaldi’s late penalty had given USM the advantage in the first leg.

The response from the Egyptian side could hardly have come any faster.

Just 5 minutes into the match, Oday Dabbagh stepped up and converted a penalty to put Zamalek ahead on the night and level the tie overall. The early goal gave the hosts momentum, and Cairo sensed a comeback. Zamalek pushed, attacked, and spent long periods trying to find a second breakthrough.

CHAMPIONS. 🌟🌟

USM Alger lift their second #TotalEnergiesCAFCC title. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gv05Nslckk

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 16, 2026

But USM Alger stayed alive. Under pressure for much of the evening, the Algerian side held firm. Goalkeeper Oussama Benbot was vital and assured that USM resisted wave after wave of attacks.

With the aggregate score still tied at the final whistle, there was no extra time. Everything would be decided from the penalty spot.

And the shootout was tense from start to finish. Neither team blinked early. Penalty after penalty found the net. 14 straight kicks were converted as tension inside the stadium kept rising.

The turning point finally arrived on the eighth round. Zamalek midfielder Mohamed Shehata sent his effort over the crossbar, giving USM Alger a chance to end it. Glody Likonza stepped forward and calmly scored.

Moments later, USM players and staff sprinted onto the pitch as celebrations began.

The title is the club’s second CAF Confederation Cup crown, adding to the historic success they first enjoyed in 2023.

With CAF increasing prize money this year, USM Alger leaves the competition with a record $4 million prize.