Interview: Belkacemi - 'Being chosen as Player of the Week is an honour for me'

USM Alger striker, Ismail Abdel Fattah Belkacemi has praised his team’s performance following their impressive 3-0 win against Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas last Sunday in the third round of Group 3 in the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.

Belkacemi, who was named the best player of the week in the CAF club competition, credited his USM Alger teammates and head coach Nabil Maaloul for his standout performances, which included scoring a brace against ASEC Mimosas.

He increased his goal tally in the group stage of the competition to four.

In an exclusive interview with CAFonline.com, Belkacemi shared his thoughts on the match and his personal performance.

CAFonline.com: Hello Ismail, congratulations on your fantastic win against ASEC Mimosas in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup. What are your thoughts following the 3-0 victory?

Belkacemi: Thank God, the victory over ASEC Mimosas was well-deserved. We outperformed the Ivorians in both play and result. We faced a well-organised team known for playing clean football across Africa. We struggled at the start, but we were able to take advantage of their mistakes. We managed to score three goals, and for that, I am grateful. I thank my teammates for their efforts on the field, and God willing, we will continue this form.

CAFonline.com: You stood out in the match and scored two goals. What are your thoughts on your exceptional performance?

Belkacemi: I simply did my job, and thank God, I was able to score two goals. It’s even more special that both goals came in a win, making the joy of scoring even sweeter. I’m grateful for the trust of my coach and teammates, which helped me achieve this. As a striker, my role is to score goals and provide assists, and with God’s help, I will continue to perform this way and keep scoring.

CAFonline.com: You were named player of the week in the CAF club competitions. How does that feel?

Belkacemi: It’s a great honour to be named player of the week in the CAF club competitions, and it’s also an honour for USM Alger. I am thankful for this recognition. Achievements like this push players to perform at a higher level, and with hard work and discipline, I hope to continue reaching similar heights in the future.

CAFonline.com: How do you view the upcoming challenges for USM Alger, both domestically and continentally?

Belkacemi: This season will be challenging for USM Alger, as we will be competing on three fronts: the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, the Professional League, and the Algerian Republic Cup. Every match we play is like a final, and God willing, we will live up to expectations, aiming to secure a title by the end of the season and bring joy to our fans.

CAFonline.com: A message for the USM Alger supporters who always back you and the team?

Belkacemi: The fans of USM Alger are well-known for their passionate support. I would like to thank them sincerely for their encouragement, both at home and abroad. They are always like our 12th player, and they deserve to see us succeed. We are always striving to be at our best and to work with them to bring joy this season. We ask them to come out in full force to the stadium and continue supporting us, so we can share in the celebrations at the end of the season.