Lamine N’Diaye : “Cup finals are won, not played” ahead of Algerian Cup final

Lamine N’Diaye, head coach of USM Alger, has stressed the difficulty of his team’s upcoming Algerian Cup final showdown against rivals CR Belouizdad.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference at Nelson Mandela Stadium, the Senegalese coach said, according to Ennaharonline:

“Cup finals are won, not played. We have prepared well for this match and know the magnitude of the responsibility placed on our shoulders.”

N’Diaye acknowledged the challenge awaiting his side:

“We will face a very difficult opponent. I hope that we will present a match at a level befitting the name of the two teams.”

The USM Alger coach also confirmed that his squad is nearly ready:

• All players are ready
• Only Houssam Ghacha will miss the final due to injury

Final Match Details:

• Competition: 2025-26 Algerian Cup Final
• Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
• Kick-off: 4:00 PM GMT
• Venue: Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers

Path to the Final

CR Belouizdad

• Beat CS Constantine 3-2 in the semi-finals
• Chasing their 10th Algerian Cup title

USM Alger

• Defeated CA Batna 3-1 in the semi-finals
• Also aiming for a 10th title while defending last season’s crown

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