USM Alger earned a dramatic 1-0 victory at the 5 July Stadium in a match dominated by late controversy and Video Assistant Referee interventions.
Zamalek believed they had secured a crucial late goal when Juan Bezerra scored deep into stoppage time. However, Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida overturned the goal following a VAR review before awarding a penalty to USM Alger after determining that defender Hossam Abdel-Maguid had committed a foul inside the penalty area.
The incident proved decisive in the first leg, leaving the Egyptian side facing a difficult task ahead of the return match in Cairo.
USM Alger Official Defends Referee
Speaking after the match in comments published by the Algerian newspaper An-Nahar, Alik strongly supported the referee’s handling of the dramatic closing moments.
“The referee of our match against Zamalek was courageous… It is not easy to cancel a goal, award a penalty kick, and send off a player.”
The USM Alger official dismissed suggestions that the officiating decisions were incorrect, pointing instead to Beida’s international experience.
“Dahan Beida is a World Cup referee, and he cannot make a mistake like this. The Video Assistant Referee called him because there was doubt about the penalty kick, then he reversed his decision, and this is normal.”
The match generated significant debate among supporters following the late VAR intervention, with emotions running high after Zamalek’s stoppage-time celebrations were cut short.
Confidence Ahead of Cairo Return
Despite holding a narrow advantage from the first leg, Alik said USM Alger would not travel to Egypt with a defensive mindset.
“We will go to Cairo to win. This is a final match, and you must give it your all, otherwise you will lose the title.”
He also acknowledged the challenge posed by the Egyptian side, who are seeking another continental triumph.
“We must acknowledge that Zamalek is a strong team, but I hope the players will give their all, and that we will be crowned champions.”
The second leg will take place at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday, 16 May, where Zamalek will attempt to overturn the deficit in front of their home supporters.
Zamalek Chasing Continental and Domestic Success
Zamalek are aiming to win the CAF Confederation Cup for the third time in the club’s history.
The Egyptian side are also competing for the domestic league title, raising hopes among supporters that the club can complete a league and Confederation Cup double this season.
However, the first-leg defeat has increased pressure on the Cairo club ahead of what is expected to be an intense second encounter.
USM Alger, meanwhile, will travel with confidence after securing a crucial away advantage and producing a performance that their management believes demonstrated resilience under pressure.
The controversy surrounding the referee’s decisions is likely to remain a major talking point before the decisive match in Cairo, where both clubs will attempt to secure one of African football’s most prestigious trophies.
The second leg of the Confederation Cup final between Zamalek and USM Alger will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS.
