The 2026 CAF Confederation Cup final was the two-legged final of the 2025–26 CAF Confederation Cup, the 23rd season of the CAF Confederation Cup and the 51st as Africa's secondary club football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), contested by USM Alger from Algeria and Zamalek from Egypt.
The final finished 1–1 on aggregate, with USM Alger winning 8–7 on penalties for their second CAF Confederation Cup title. The winners earned the right to play in the 2026 CAF Super Cup.
Teams TeamZonePrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners) USM AlgerUNAF (North Africa)1 (2023) ZamalekUNAF (North Africa)2 (2019, 2024)
Venues
Road to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away). USM AlgerRound ZamalekOpponent1st leg2nd legQualifying roundsOpponent1st leg2nd legByeFirst roundBye AFAD Djékanou3–10–1 (A)3–0 (H)Second round Dekedaha7–06–0 (A)1–0 (H)OpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult San Pédro3–2 (H)Matchday 1 ZESCO United1–0 (H) Olympic Safi1–0 (A)Matchday 2 Kaizer Chiefs1–1 (A) Djoliba2–0 (H)Matchday 3 Al Masry0–0 (H) Djoliba0–0 (A)Matchday 4 Al Masry2–1 (A) San Pédro3–2 (A)Matchday 5 ZESCO United0–1 (A) Olympic Safi0–0 (H)Matchday 6 Kaizer Chiefs2–1 (H)Group A winnersFinal standingsGroup D winnersOpponent1st leg2nd legKnockout stageOpponent1st leg2nd leg Maniema Union2–2 (a)1–2 (A)1–0 (H)Quarter-finals AS Otohô3–21–1 (A)2–1 (H) Olympic Safi1–1 (a)0–0 (H)1–1 (A)Semi-finals CR Belouizdad1–01–0 (A)0–0 (H)
Format The final is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis.
If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, extra time would not be played, and a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winners.
Matches First leg In the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final at the Stade du 5 Juillet, USM Alger secured a narrow but valuable 1–0 victory over Zamalek SC after a dramatic and hard-fought encounter. As expected, the Algerian side faced a highly experienced opponent accustomed to major continental matches. Despite the electric atmosphere created by the packed crowd at the Stade du 5 Juillet, Zamalek showed composure and tactical discipline throughout the game. Although USMA enjoyed more possession and attacking pressure, they repeatedly lacked precision and efficiency in the final third against a well organized Egyptian defense.
Zamalek also threatened on several counterattacks, particularly through Angolan forward Chico Banza. The visitors came closest to scoring in the 52nd minute when Banza lobbed goalkeeper Benbot, only for Hocine Dehiri to clear the ball almost off the goal line. Meanwhile, USMA continued to push forward through players such as Brahim Benzaza, Kamagaté, and Ahmed Khaldi, but failed to convert their chances for most of the match.
The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. In the 90+2nd minute, Bezerra appeared to have scored for Zamalek following a rapid counterattack, but Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida consulted VAR and ruled out the goal for a prior foul by Mahmoud Bentayg on Rayane Mahrouz inside the penalty area. Bentayg was sent off, and a penalty was awarded to USMA. Khaldi calmly converted the spot kick to hand the Algerian side a dramatic late victory, sparking huge celebrations inside the stadium.
Details
GK25 Oussama Benbot CB4 Che Malone CB13 Hocine DehiriRB19 Saâdi Radouani (c) LB12 Haithem Loucif DM6 Zakaria DraouiDM14 Brahim Benzaza AM8 Islam MeriliAM30 Aimé Tendeng ST7 Ahmed KhaldiST29 Dramane Kamagaté Substitutes:GK16 Kamel SoufiCB3 Safieddine AtmaniaRB20 Rayane Mahrouz LB23 Ilyes ChettiAM11 Glody Likonza DM26 Omar BoularasLW22 Moncif BoutaouiRW24 Mohamed Bouderbala ST9 Riad BenayadManager : Lamine N'Diaye GK37 El Mahdy SolimanDF5 Hossam Abdelmaguid DF28 Mahmoud Hamdy DF24 Mohamed IsmailDF3 Mahmoud Bentayg MF13 Ahmed Fatouh MF17 Mohamed Shehata (c)MF18 Adam Kaied MF19 Abdallah El SaidFW32 Chico Banza FW27 Oday Dabbagh Substitutes:GK1 Mohamed AwadDF34 Mohamed Ibrahim MF11 Ahmed Abdel Rahim MF12 Ahmed Rabie MF26 El Sayed OsamaFW9 Nasser MansiFW30 Seifeddine JaziriFW31 Ahmed Sherif FW33 Juan Alvina Manager: Motamed Gamal
Assistant referees: Ivanildo Lopes (Angola) Elvis Noupoue (Cameroon) Fourth official: Abdelaziz Bouh (Mauritania) Video assistant referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana) Assistant video assistant referees: Babacar Sarr (Mauritania) Dickens Nyagrowa (Kenya)Match rules
90 minutes. Nine named substitutes, of which up to five may be used.
Statistics
+First halfStatisticUSM AlgerZamalek SCGoals scored00Total shots114Shots on target02Saves41Ball possession70%30%Corner kicks52Offsides01Yellow cards20Red cards00
+Second halfStatisticUSM AlgerZamalek SCGoals scored10Total shots124Shots on target41Saves41Ball possession70%30%Corner kicks01Offsides10Yellow cards23Red cards01
+OverallStatisticUSM AlgerZamalek SCGoals scored01Total shots238Shots on target43Saves82Ball possession70%30%Corner kicks53Offsides11Yellow cards43Red cards01
Second leg USM Alger claimed their second ever CAF Confederation Cup title after defeating Zamalek 8–7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Cairo International Stadium. Zamalek won the second leg 1–0 thanks to an early penalty from Oday Dabbagh, leveling the aggregate score at 1–1 after USM Alger’s first-leg victory in Algiers. Despite strong pressure from the Egyptian side, USM Alger remained composed and pushed for an equalizer, with Ahmed Khaldi creating several dangerous chances throughout the match. The game eventually went to a tense penalty shootout where both teams converted their first seven attempts. The decisive moment came when Mohamed Shehata missed Zamalek’s eighth penalty by firing over the bar.
Substitute Glody Likonza then calmly converted the winning kick to secure the trophy for the Algerian club. Goalkeeper Oussama Benbot also played a crucial role, especially with a late save from Nasser Mansi that kept USM Alger alive before penalties. The victory earned USM Alger a record prize of USD 4 million and qualification for the CAF Super Cup, where they will face either Mamelodi Sundowns or AS FAR. Coach Lamine N'Diaye added another continental success to his career as the club further strengthened its place in African football history.
Details
GK37 El Mahdy Soliman DF5 Hossam Abdelmaguid DF34 Mohamed Ibrahim DF24 Mahmoud HamdyDF13 Ahmed Fatouh (c) MF17 Mohamed Shehata MF18 Adam Kaied MF19 Abdallah El Said FW32 Chico Banza FW33 Juan AlvinaFW27 Oday Dabbagh Substitutes:GK1 Mohamed Awad DF28 Mahmoud Hamdy MF11 Ahmed Abdel Rahim MF12 Ahmed RabieMF26 El Sayed OsamaMF39 Mohamed El Sayed FW9 Nasser Mansi FW30 Seifeddine Jaziri FW31 Ahmed SherifManager: Motamed Gamal GK25 Oussama BenbotCB4 Che MaloneCB13 Hocine Dehiri RB19 Saâdi Radouani (c)LB12 Haithem LoucifDM6 Zakaria DraouiDM14 Brahim Benzaza AM8 Islam Merili AM30 Aimé TendengST7 Ahmed KhaldiST29 Dramane Kamagaté Substitutes:GK16 Kamel SoufiLB2 Walid KourdiCB3 Safieddine AtmaniaRB20 Rayane MahrouzLB23 Ilyes Chetti AM11 Glody Likonza DM26 Omar BoularasRW24 Mohamed BouderbalaST9 Riad Benayad Manager : Lamine N'Diaye
Assistant referees: Boris Ditsoga (Gabon) Amos Abeigne (Gabon) Fourth official: Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon) Video assistant referee: Haythem Guirat (Tunisia) Assistant video assistant referees: Maria River (Mauritius) Carine Fomo (Cameroon)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 halfStatisticZamalek SCUSM AlgerGoals scored10Total shots13Shots on target11Saves10Ball possession36%64%Corner kicks00Offsides20Yellow cards01Red cards00
+Second halfStatisticZamalek SCUSM AlgerGoals scored00Total shots26Shots on target10Saves01Ball possession36%64%Corner kicks10Offsides41Yellow cards10Red cards00
+OverallStatisticZamalek SCUSM AlgerGoals scored10Total shots39Shots on target21Saves11Ball possession36%64%Corner kicks10Offsides61Yellow cards11Red cards00
See also List of CAF Confederation Cup finals 2026 CAF Champions League final 2026 CAF Super Cup
Notes
References
External links TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, CAFonline.com