A fiery match took place at the Al-Massira Green Stadium in the Moroccan city of Safi, where Olympique Safi hosted Algerian side USM Alger in the second leg of the 2026 CAF Confederation Cup semi-final. The match was delayed due to violent fan clashes, which created a tense atmosphere and impacted the players' focus, particularly the Moroccan team, who entered the match amidst this chaos.

Match Events: Moroccan Pressure and Algerian Response

The match started cautiously from both sides, with Olympique Safi dominating possession and controlling the ball throughout the first half. They were the more attacking side but struggled to convert their chances. Moroccan player Ayoub Lakhallal was the most active, constantly threatening the Algerian defense, but was thwarted by USM Alger goalkeeper Farid Mellali, who made several crucial saves.

Despite Safi's dominance, the unexpected happened. In the dying seconds of the first half, USM Alger was awarded a penalty after a foul inside the box. Ahmed Khaldi successfully converted it to give his team the lead in the 45th+4 minute, despite the Algerian team's underwhelming performance in the first half.

In the second half, Olympique Safi intensified their attacks and kept the pressure on, eventually finding the equalizer in the 75th minute through a header by Moussa Koné, which revived hope for their fans. Following the goal, Safi went all-out in search of the winner, but USM Alger's solid defensive organization proved decisive. The Algerians managed to close down the spaces and absorb the Moroccan attacks, securing the 1-1 draw, which was enough for them to progress to the final, taking advantage of the goalless draw in the first leg.

Fan Violence and Its Impact on the Match

Off the field, the events were as dramatic as those on it. The match witnessed significant fan violence from Olympique Safi supporters, with clashes erupting before the match began. This led to the referee delaying the kick-off for an hour and twenty minutes. The USM Alger players also refused to step onto the field due to the threats and attacks they faced from the Moroccan fans.

Despite the intervention of Moroccan security forces to contain the situation, the tense atmosphere lingered throughout the match, undoubtedly affecting the players' focus, especially for Olympique Safi, who entered the game under difficult psychological conditions.

At the final whistle, USM Alger secured their place in the CAF Confederation Cup final, where they will face Zamalek in two legs on May 9 and 16.