CAFCC: Djoliba dominance ends in stalemate against USM Alger

Djoliba missed out on a chance to get their first win of the CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) campaign following a barren draw against USM Alger (USMA) in a Group A encounter. The Malian side dominated the proceedings as they created many scoring chances but failed to be lethal in front of goal.

🎞️ Match Highlights:
All square at full time. Djoliba AC 0-0 USM Alger. #TotalEnergiesCAFCC pic.twitter.com/NulwtqtMS6

— TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) February 2, 2026

The hosts were the better team in the first half at the Stade du 26 Mars as they troubled the club from the Algerian capital in Bamako.

Fode Touré failed to hit the target with a low drive in the 30th minute. Four minutes later, Amadou Soumare rattled the crossbar with a brilliant strike after good work by Touré. The home side were very close to getting a goal, but USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbot saved a header from Keita Boubacar.

Following the resumption, USMA still opted to sit back and defend while the Malians resumed their attacking strategy. Crosses were causing havoc in the visitors’ defense as Touré got more scoring chances during the second half.

Nevertheless, against the run of play, USMA star Houssam Ghacha missed an absolute sitter from close range after goalkeeper Wilfried Kouassi denied striker Dramane Kamagaté at the hour mark. A couple more opportunities for the hosts came close to breaking the deadlock in the remaining minutes, but their efforts were futile.

USMA remain unbeaten in the Confederation Cup as they top Group A with ten points, and a quarterfinal place looks imminent for them. The Malian club gained their first point of the campaign but now risk being dumped out of the competition after Olympique Safi and FC San Pédro square off later on Sunday evening.

Djoliba on top in first-half exchanges

From the opening whistle in Bamako, Djoliba AC asserted their intent, pushing USM Alger deep into their own half and controlling possession. Backed by a vocal home crowd, the Malians moved the ball quickly across midfield and frequently exploited the flanks, forcing the visitors to defend in numbers.

Djoliba’s first real opportunity arrived in the 30th minute when Fodé Touré latched onto a loose ball inside the box, but his low-driven effort lacked accuracy and drifted wide of the post. The hosts came even closer just four minutes later when Amadou Soumaré unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that crashed against the crossbar, leaving USMA goalkeeper Oussama Benbot beaten.

Moments later, Benbot was called into action again, producing a sharp save to deny Keita Boubacar’s header from a well-delivered cross. It was a period of sustained pressure from Djoliba, who went into the break feeling they should have been ahead.

Second half follows similar pattern

The pattern of the match remained largely unchanged after the restart. USM Alger continued to sit deep, prioritising defensive solidity and attempting to hit on the counter, while Djoliba resumed their attacking approach with renewed urgency.

Crosses into the penalty area caused repeated problems for the Algerian defence, with Touré once again finding himself in promising positions. However, composure in the final third proved elusive, as shots were either blocked, off target, or comfortably dealt with by Benbot.

USMA threaten against the run of play

Against the flow of the game, USM Alger nearly stole the lead on the hour mark. Goalkeeper Wilfried Kouassi produced an excellent save to deny Dramane Kamagaté, but the rebound fell kindly to Houssam Ghacha, who somehow missed an open goal from close range. The miss proved costly for the visitors, but it also served as a warning to Djoliba about the dangers of leaving spaces at the back.

In the closing stages, the Malian side pushed even harder in search of a decisive breakthrough. A series of late chances fell their way, yet the final touch continued to let them down. As the referee blew for full time, frustration was evident among the Djoliba players and supporters, who felt their dominance deserved more than a single point.

CAFCC Group A Table