Latest news with #USMAlger
CAF
10-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
CS Constantine edge USM Alger on penalties to reach historic semi-final
Published: Wednesday, 09 April 2025 Algeria's CS Constantine booked a place in the semi-finals of the 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in their history after defeating domestic rivals USM Alger in a tense penalty shootout on Wednesday night. The quarter-final second leg, held at the Stade 5 Juillet in Algiers, ended 1-1 in regulation time — mirroring the result of the first leg in Constantine — before Constantine triumphed 4-3 in the shootout to complete a dramatic victory. USM Alger, last season's champions, struck first through Adam Alilat, who calmly slotted home a 26th-minute penalty to put the hosts ahead. That early lead gave USMA the advantage, but Constantine were not to be denied. In the 56th minute, a well-worked move saw Mehdi Deeb tee up Abdelnour Belhousini, whose glancing header beat Benbot to level the tie once again. The game became increasingly cagey in the closing stages, with both sides creating half-chances but failing to convert. The best opportunity to win the tie in regulation time fell to Boussliou in the 83rd minute, but his header drifted wide after a pinpoint delivery from Khaldi. With no winner after 90 minutes, the match proceeded to penalties — and it was CS Constantine who held their nerve, converting four of their spot-kicks to seal a famous victory and spark wild celebrations. The result sets up a mouthwatering semi-final between CS Constantine and Morocco's RS Berkane, last season's runners-up and two-time winners of the competition. For Constantine, the achievement marks a major milestone in the club's continental journey. Meanwhile, USM Alger will be left ruing missed opportunities in their title defence, falling short of a return to the semi-finals just a year after lifting the trophy.
CAF
03-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
CS Constantine, USM Alger share the spoils
Constantine Sports Club and USM Alger shared the spoils in a highly tactical Algerian derby on Wednesday evening's TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash played at the Hamlaoui Stadium in Constantine. The hosts, with the backing of the CS Constantine faithful were the first to draw blood on the 29th minute through a well taken Mounder Temine much to the delight of the green and black of Constantine. The hosts could have levelled matters in the 40th minute when Riyad Ben Ayad almost found the back of the net but was unfortunate to be denied. Going into the break, the hosts looked to be well in control of the tie, with a number of good goalscoring opportunities coming their way. The hosts were punished for not converting their chances towards the closing stages when Kevin Mondeko drew level in the 73rd minute to the heartbreak of the hosts. The late goal sees the former champions going back to Algers with confidence boosting draw that will put them in a slightly advantageous position when they hosts their Algerian counterparts next week in the return leg. The second leg will take place at the 5 July Stadium in Algiers.
CAF
31-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Historic derbies and fresh battles headline 2024/25 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals stage
Published: Monday, 31 March 2025 The road to African club glory continues as the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 reaches the quarter-final stage this week, with four highly anticipated first-leg fixtures scheduled for Wednesday, 2 April 2025 across the continent. This round features a fascinating mix of seasoned giants and ambitious newcomers, each fighting for a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious club competition. From fierce derbies to cross-regional showdowns, the quarter-finals promise drama, intensity, and football of the highest quality. All eyes will be on Cape Town Stadium where South African debutants Stellenbosch FC take on Egyptian powerhouse Zamalek SC. While Zamalek are aiming for another title following their 2024 triumph, Stellenbosch will be looking to make history in their first-ever quarter-final appearance. It's a classic battle between experience and ambition. In Abidjan, former TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winners ASEC Mimosas will clash with Morocco's RS Berkane, a club with an impressive TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup pedigree. ASEC's attacking flair meets Berkane's proven efficiency in what is expected to be a tightly contested tie. Algeria will host a thrilling domestic derby as CS Constantine welcomes continental veterans USM Alger. For CS Constantine, this marks a maiden appearance at this stage, while USM Alger brings seasoned pedigree and intent to advance further. The clash at Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium is bound to be electric, with national pride also at stake. The final fixture sees Al Masry SC of Egypt facing Tanzania's Simba SC at the Suez Stadium. Al Masry, semi-finalists in 2018, will count on their home support and tournament experience, while Simba SC – back in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2021/22 – look to underline their continental ambitions. The return leg fixtures will be played the following week, with the aggregate winners progressing to the semi-finals of Africa's second-tier club competition. Quarter-Final First Leg Fixtures – Wednesday, 2 April 2025 Stellenbosch FC (South Africa) vs Zamalek SC (Egypt) Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Kick-off: 13h00 GMT Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town 13h00 GMT ASEC Mimosas (Côte d'Ivoire) vs RS Berkane (Morocco) Venue: Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan Kick-off: 16h00 GMT Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan 16h00 GMT CS Constantine (Algeria) vs USM Alger (Algeria) Venue: Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine Kick-off: 16h00 GMT Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine 16h00 GMT Al Masry SC (Egypt) vs Simba SC (Tanzania) Venue: Suez Stadium, Suez Kick-off: 16h00 GMT For more information on the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25, including fixtures, results, and news, visit -ENDS- Further Inquiries: communications@ CAF | Communication Department
The Independent
27-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Sports highest court says Moroccan soccer shirt depicting map of disputed area was breach of rules
A court governing international soccer disputes has ruled that depicting the disputed Western Sahara as part of Morocco on club jerseys violates rules against political messaging. The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, or CAS, on Wednesday upheld an appeal from Algeria's soccer federation contesting the Confederation of African Football's April 2024 decision allowing a northern Moroccan club to wear jerseys featuring the disputed map. The world governing body states that no item of kit which 'includes political statements or images' may be worn. 'The image of a map of Morocco including Western Sahara on the shirts of RS Berkane depicts a message, a demonstration or propaganda of a political nature as it represents the assertion of a territorial dispute that is contested and still unresolved as of today,' the court's panel of judges ruled. Diplomatic ties cut in 2021 Western Sahara, a phosphate-rich former Spanish colony the size of the United Kingdom, is a territory claimed by both Morocco and Polisario Front, a pro-independence movement that operates out of refugee camps in southern Algeria. A 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire established a mission to organize a referendum on the region's future, but disagreements over voter eligibility have long stalled the process. The territorial dispute drives foreign policy for both Morocco and Algeria, which supports Polisario's claims. The two countries cut diplomatic ties in 2021 and have since fought over soccer jerseys, caftans, tiles and airspace. The soccer dispute originated last year when players for Morocco's RS Berkane had uniforms seized by Algerian authorities at the airport before the first leg of a semi-final against USM Alger. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) which organizes the continent's international soccer competitions, denied Algeria's request to ban the shirts. RS Berkane refused to wear replacements and the game did not go ahead. Days later, USM Alger refused to play the second leg of the match in Morocco if the hosts wore the jerseys. CAF awarded wins to RS Berkane by default. The case hinges on the laws of soccer requiring jerseys 'not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.' 'Sporting justice' The ruling comes as Morocco emerges as a political force in African soccer, preparing to host this year's Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, along with Spain and Portugal. Moroccan soccer federation president Fouzi Lekjaa is a key influence at CAF, as a member of its executive committee, and within FIFA, where he is among the elected African members of the world soccer body's ruling council. Lekjaa also is a past president of RS Berkane. Lekjaa's influence, also as a government finance minister, led to FIFA agreeing to open a development office for African soccer in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. In a statement, the USM Alger club thanked the Algerian government and soccer federation and described the ruling as 'sporting justice.' RS Berkane also lauded the ruling and framed it as a victory, celebrating the panel's decision to reject Algeria's request to annul the results of last year's semi-final games and impose sanctions. __ Graham Dunbar contributed reporting from Geneva, Switzerland.
Associated Press
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Sports highest court says Moroccan soccer shirt depicting map of disputed area was breach of rules
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — A court governing international soccer disputes has ruled that depicting the disputed Western Sahara as part of Morocco on club jerseys violates rules against political messaging. The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, or CAS, on Wednesday upheld an appeal from Algeria's soccer federation contesting the Confederation of African Football's April 2024 decision allowing a northern Moroccan club to wear jerseys featuring the disputed map. The world governing body states that no item of kit which 'includes political statements or images' may be worn. 'The image of a map of Morocco including Western Sahara on the shirts of RS Berkane depicts a message, a demonstration or propaganda of a political nature as it represents the assertion of a territorial dispute that is contested and still unresolved as of today,' the court's panel of judges ruled. Diplomatic ties cut in 2021 Western Sahara, a phosphate-rich former Spanish colony the size of the United Kingdom, is a territory claimed by both Morocco and Polisario Front, a pro-independence movement that operates out of refugee camps in southern Algeria. A 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire established a mission to organize a referendum on the region's future, but disagreements over voter eligibility have long stalled the process. The territorial dispute drives foreign policy for both Morocco and Algeria, which supports Polisario's claims. The two countries cut diplomatic ties in 2021 and have since fought over soccer jerseys, caftans, tiles and airspace. The soccer dispute originated last year when players for Morocco's RS Berkane had uniforms seized by Algerian authorities at the airport before the first leg of a semi-final against USM Alger. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) which organizes the continent's international soccer competitions, denied Algeria's request to ban the shirts. RS Berkane refused to wear replacements and the game did not go ahead. Days later, USM Alger refused to play the second leg of the match in Morocco if the hosts wore the jerseys. CAF awarded wins to RS Berkane by default. The case hinges on the laws of soccer requiring jerseys 'not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.' 'Sporting justice' The ruling comes as Morocco emerges as a political force in African soccer, preparing to host this year's Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, along with Spain and Portugal. Moroccan soccer federation president Fouzi Lekjaa is a key influence at CAF, as a member of its executive committee, and within FIFA, where he is among the elected African members of the world soccer body's ruling council. Lekjaa also is a past president of RS Berkane. Lekjaa's influence, also as a government finance minister, led to FIFA agreeing to open a development office for African soccer in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. In a statement, the USM Alger club thanked the Algerian government and soccer federation and described the ruling as 'sporting justice.' RS Berkane also lauded the ruling and framed it as a victory, celebrating the panel's decision to reject Algeria's request to annul the results of last year's semi-final games and impose sanctions. __
