Draoui strike seals vital away win for USM Alger

USM Alger grabbed their second win of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup group stage with a crucial 1–0 victory away to Olympic Club de Safi, thanks to a late strike from midfielder Zakaria Draoui.

The match was a tight, tactical affair throughout, with both sides showing defensive discipline and few clear scoring chances emerging in the opening half.

The teams went into the break deadlocked at 0–0 after a cautious first 45 minutes.

USM Alger stepped up their intensity in the second half, pushing forward with greater purpose. Their pressure was rewarded in the 84th minute, when Riad Benayad created the decisive opening.

Benayad’s clever play inside the area teed up Zakaria Draoui, who rifled a precise right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to give the visitors a late lead.

Despite a spirited push from the hosts in the closing minutes, USM Alger held firm to secure all three points.

The result delivers a significant boost to the Algerian side as they strengthen their position at the top of Group A.