‘We deserved it’ – Coach Ndiaye hails USM Alger after dramatic final triumph

USM Alger coach Lamine Ndiaye says they are worthy champions after the Algerian club defeated Zamalek 8-7 on penalties to win the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday evening, surviving a fierce second-leg battle in Cairo to reclaim the continental crown.

The noise inside Cairo International Stadium was meant to inspire a comeback. Instead, by the end of a tense and emotional night, it was the travelling supporters from Algeria celebrating another famous continental triumph.

Zamalek won the return leg 1-0 after an early strike forced the tie level at 1-1 on aggregate, but the Egyptians ultimately fell short in the shootout as heartbreak returned to Cairo in front of a packed home crowd.

For Ndiaye, however, the result reflected the balance of the contest across the two legs.

“Our crowning as CAF Confederation Cup champions is well deserved,” the Senegalese coach said after the match.

The final was played in a feverish atmosphere, with Zamalek under pressure to overturn the first-leg deficit suffered in Algiers. The Egyptian side responded strongly at the start and grabbed the early goal they desperately needed, igniting belief among the home supporters.

But as the match wore on, USM Alger gradually regained composure and control.

Ndiaye revealed afterwards that his players had prepared mentally for exactly such a scenario.

“The scenario of the match was something we expected,” he explained. “I asked the players not to panic if we conceded early. We continued to play our football, created chances and remained offensive.”

The veteran coach believed his side dictated large spells of the encounter despite the hostile atmosphere and Zamalek’s urgency.

“We controlled most parts of the game,” he added. “We stopped the strengths of Zamalek and played with all our power.”

Ndiaye even pointed to the match statistics to underline his side’s superiority.

“Zamalek had only 34 percent possession and only three shots on target, while we had six,” he said. “The numbers show the performance of my players.”

The triumph marks another significant achievement for USM Alger, who previously lifted the trophy in 2023 after defeating Young Africans in the final. Their latest success further strengthens the club’s growing reputation as one of the continent’s most resilient knockout teams.

For Zamalek, however, the night ended in pain and frustration.

Coach Motamed Jamal admitted his side struggled physically and mentally as the game progressed, despite making the perfect start.

“We did not want the match to go to penalties,” he said. “Even though we scored early, the team was not at its best during the second leg.”

The Egyptian coach acknowledged that USM Alger grew stronger, particularly after halftime.

“The opponent was better than us in the second half,” Jamal admitted. “Our decline came because we became afraid after taking the lead.”

Zamalek had hoped to secure a third Confederation Cup title following their previous triumphs in 2019 and 2024, both achieved against Morocco’s Renaissance Berkane. Instead, the Cairo giants were left reflecting on missed opportunities and the cruel margins of penalty shootouts.

Jamal suggested fatigue also played a role in the performance of his players during the latter stages of the final.

“I could feel the tiredness of the players, so we relied more on transitions in the second half,” he explained.

The coach also defended midfielder Mohamed Shehata after the decisive missed penalty.

“In the end, penalties are about luck,” Jamal said. “I cannot blame Mohamed Shehata.”

The defeat was especially painful given the atmosphere inside Cairo International Stadium, where thousands of Zamalek supporters had arrived expecting another famous continental night.

Instead, it was USM Alger who held their nerve when it mattered most.

Their composure from the penalty spot, combined with Ndiaye’s tactical discipline and belief, ultimately carried the Algerian side through one of the most dramatic finals in recent Confederation Cup history.

And while Cairo fell silent at the final whistle, the celebrations from the Algerian players told the story of a team convinced from the beginning that this trophy was destined to return home with them.