CAF Confederation Cup: Semifinal 2nd leg postponed after clashes between USM Alger and OC Safi supporters

Another episode from the Algeria-Morocco rivalry has emerged in the CAF Confederation Cup, causing Sunday’s semifinal second leg between hosts Olympic Club Safi and visitors USM Alger to be postponed. (UPDATE: Kickoff has been delayed to 20:20 GMT as of now)

Video from the stadium reveals more on the situation between USM Alger 🇩🇿 and OC Safi 🇲🇦. Clashes between supporters have erupted at the Stade El Massira in Safi.#TotalEnergiesCAFCC #CAFCC pic.twitter.com/HGuUb8j4I6

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) April 19, 2026

Algerian club USM Alger refused to take the pitch, citing security concerns after clashes between supporters of the two clubs broke out in the buildup to the second leg. The first leg ended 0-0 between the two clubs in Algiers last weekend.

And now ahead of a massive second leg in Morocco, the responsibility will fall upon CAF to make yet another decision that is sure to cause controversy regardless of their judgment.

USM Alger players did take the pitch initially to warm up but based on video emerging from the scene, the Algerian club’s players were engaged by home supporters who stormed onto the pitch. Scenes of chaos could be seen on the international television feed with supporters running around on the pitch with USM Alger players in the dressing room.

More photos from delayed CAF Confederation Cup semifinal 2nd leg

Another low point as North African rivalry extends to the pitch

The ongoing rivalry between the two North African neighbors extends far beyond the football pitch, making matches between clubs from the countries tense affairs that display the ugly side of political differences.

USM Alger were involved during the 2023-24 Confederation Cup controversy that emerged in the semifinals when they were matched up against RS Berkane. RSB decided to introduce a controversial jersey design featuring an outline of Morocco that included the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

The territory continues to be the source of political tension between the two countries. Ahead of the first leg in Algeria that season, RS Berkane’s jerseys were seized and the club refused to take the pitch. CAF controversialy decided to award RS Berkane a 3-0 walkover victory, and the second leg also ended with a walkover in favor of the Moroccan club after USM Alger refused to take the pitch despite traveling.

Almost a year after the incident, following an appeal with many delays to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the international sport court ruled that CAF violated its statutes by declaring the first leg a walkover. The CAS determined that RS Berkane’s jerseys were a demonstration of a message or “propaganda of a political nature”.

But due to the long delay, the decision had no effect on the competition where RS Berkane finished as runners-up to champions Zamalek of Egypt.

Now, everybody looks to CAF again to see what the African footballing body decides. Indeed, this may require the assessment of the CAS again due to what happened a couple years ago between USMA and RS Berkane.