The 2023 CAF Confederation Cup final were the final matches of the 2022–23 CAF Confederation Cup, the 20th season of the CAF Confederation Cup and the 48th season overall of Africa's secondary club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The final was contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Young Africans from Tanzania and USM Alger from Algeria. The first leg was hosted by Young Africans at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on 28 May 2023, while the second leg was hosted by USM Alger at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers on 3 June 2023.
USM Alger won against Young Africans by away goal rule, after a 2–2 draw, which the Algerian side scored twice away in the 2–1 win earlier.
Background Young Africans became the first Tanzanian club to reach the CAF Confederation Cup final and the second continental final for Tanzanian clubs, also the first club from CECAFA to reach a continental final since 1993 by Simba Sports Club in the CAF Cup.
USM Alger it is the second time has reached a continental final after the CAF Champions League final in 2015 against TP Mazembe where they was defeated. This was the fourth CAF Confederation Cup final for the algerian club after ES Sétif, MO Béjaïa and JS Kabylie who were all defeated. USM Alger is looking for the first continental title, especially since the second leg is played in Algeria.
Previous finals TeamZonePrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) Young AfricansCECAFA (East Africa)none USM AlgerUNAF (North Africa)none
Venues After playing the final in the last three copies in a neutral land, the return was made to the previous home and away system and the first leg in Dar es Salaam will be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on May 28. It opened in 2007 and was built adjacent to Uhuru Stadium, the former national stadium. It hosts major football matches such as the Tanzanian Premier League and home matches of the Tanzania national football team, the second leg at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers on June 3 where the winners will lift the trophy. It opened in 1972 and served as the main stadium of the 1975 Mediterranean Games, the 1978 All-Africa Games, the 2004 Pan Arab Games, and the 2007 All-Africa Games. The stadium was one of two venues of the 1990 African Cup of Nations (the other venue was the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba).
Road to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). Young AfricansRound USM AlgerCAF Champions LeagueCAF Confederation CupOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legQualifying rounds(CL, CC)OpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Zalan9–04–0 (A)5–0 (H)First roundBye Al Hilal1–21–1 (H)0–1 (A)Second round ASC Kara4–12–0 (A)2–1 (H)CAF Confederation Cup Club Africain1–00–0 (H)1–0 (A)Playoff round Cape Town City1–00–0 (A)1–0 (H)OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult Union Monatirienne0–2 (A)Matchday 1 Saint-Éloi Lupopo3–0 (H) TP Mazembe3–1 (H)Matchday 2 Al Akhdar1–1 (A) Real Bamako1–1 (A)Matchday 3 Marumo Gallants2–0 (H) Real Bamako2–0 (H)Matchday 4 Marumo Gallants0–2 (A) Union Monatirienne2–0 (H)Matchday 5 Saint-Éloi Lupopo1–1 (A) TP Mazembe1–0 (A)Matchday 6 Al Akhdar4–1 (H)Group D winnersFinal standingsGroup A runners-upOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout stageOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Rivers United2–02–0 (A)0–0 (H)Quarter-finals ASFAR4–32–0 (H)2–3 (A) Marumo Gallants4–12–0 (H)2–1 (A)Semi-finals ASEC Mimosas2–00–0 (A)2–0 (H)
Format The final was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis.
If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule was applied, and if still equal, extra time was played, and a penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner.
Matches First leg Details
GK39 Djigui DiarraDF4 Yannick Bangala Litombo DF5 Dickson Job DF3 Bakari Mwamnyeto (c)DF15 Kibwana Shomari DF2 Ibrahim Abdallah HamadMF27 Mudathir Yahya FW10 Stephane Aziz Ki FW25 Kennedy Musonda FW29 Tuisila Kisinda FW9 Fiston Mayele Substitutes:GK1 Metacha Mnata DF13 Joyce Lomalisa DF21 Djuma Shabani MF12 Jesus Ducapel Moloko MF17 Faridi Mussa MF18 Salum Abubakar MF20 Zawadi Mauya FW33 Bernard Morrison FW40 Clement Franses Mzize Head Coach: Nasreddine Nabi GK25 Oussama Benbot RB19 Saâdi Radouani LB12 Haithem LoucifCB4 Zineddine Belaïd (c)CB21 Adam Alilet DM6 Oussama Chita DM14 Brahim Benzaza AM8 Islam Merili RW23 Khaled Bousseliou LW31 Tumisang Orebonye ST18 Aymen Mahious Substitutes:GK16 Imad Benchlef RB3 Abdelkader Belharrane CB27 Ibrahim Bekakchi DM15 Messala Merbah DM24 Taher Benkhelifa AM26 Akram Djahnit ST7 Ismail Belkacemi LW10 Abderrahmane Meziane RW20 Zakaria Alharaish Manager: Abdelhak Benchikha
Assistant referees: Zakhele Siwela (South Africa) Olivier Safari Kabene (DR Congo) Fourth official: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius) Video assistant referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya) Assistant video assistant referees: Akuna Maklama (South Africa) Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim (Sudan)Match rules
90 minutes. Nine named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.
Statistics
+First halfStatisticYoung AfricansUSM AlgerGoals scored01Total shots00Shots on target00Saves00Ball possession60%40%Corner kicks00Offsides00Yellow cards10Red cards00
+Second halfStatisticYoung AfricansUSM AlgerGoals scored11Total shots00Shots on target00Saves00Ball possession70%30%Corner kicks00Offsides00Yellow cards04Red cards00
+OverallStatisticYoung AfricansUSM AlgerGoals scored12Total shots1511Shots on target46Saves00Ball possession65%35%Corner kicks95Offsides10Yellow cards14Red cards00
Second leg Details
GK25 Oussama BenbotRB19 Saâdi Radouani LB12 Haithem LoucifCB4 Zineddine Belaïd (c)CB21 Adam Alilet DM6 Oussama ChitaDM15 Messala Merbah AM8 Islam Merili RW23 Khaled Bousseliou LW31 Tumisang Orebonye ST18 Aymen Mahious Substitutes:GK16 Imad BenchlefRB3 Abdelkader BelharraneCB5 Mustapha BouchinaCB27 Ibrahim Bekakchi DM24 Taher Benkhelifa AM26 Akram Djahnit ST7 Ismail Belkacemi LW10 Abderrahmane Meziane RW20 Zakaria Alharaish Manager: Abdelhak Benchikha GK39 Djigui DiarraDF21 Djuma Shabani DF2 Ibrahim Abdallah HamadDF3 Bakari Mwamnyeto (c) DF5 Dickson Job MF27 Mudathir Yahya MF18 Salum Abubakar MF29 Tuisila Kisinda MF13 Joyce Lomalisa FW9 Fiston Mayele FW25 Kennedy Musonda Substitutes:GK1 Metacha Mnata DF4 Yannick Bangala LitomboDF15 Kibwana Shomari MF12 Jesus Ducapel Moloko MF17 Faridi Mussa MF20 Zawadi MauyaFW10 Stephane Aziz Ki FW33 Bernard Morrison FW40 Clement Franses Mzize Head Coach: Nasreddine Nabi
Assistant referees: Jerson Emiliano dos Santos (Angola) Arsénio Chadreque Marengula (Mozambique) Fourth official: Mahmood Ismail (Sudan) Video assistant referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (Egypt) Assistant video assistant referees: Mohamed Adel (Egypt) Mahmoud Abo El Regal (Egypt)Match rules
90 minutes. Penalty shoot-out if tied on aggregate and away goals. Nine named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.
Statistics
+First halfStatisticUSM AlgerYoung AfricansGoals scored01Total shots73Shots on target31Saves03Ball possession43%57%Corner kicks10Offsides02Yellow cards11Red cards00
+Second halfStatisticUSM AlgerYoung AfricansGoals scored00Total shots94Shots on target22Saves22Ball possession49%51%Corner kicks12Offsides00Yellow cards13Red cards00
+OverallStatisticUSM AlgerYoung AfricansGoals scored01Total shots167Shots on target53Saves25Ball possession46%54%Corner kicks22Offsides02Yellow cards24Red cards00
See also 2023 CAF Champions League Final 2023 CAF Super Cup
Notes
References
External links CAFonline.com