USMA Algiers is close to the Confederation title with an away win

USMA Algiers came close to winning the CAF Confederation Cup after winning 2-1 away from Tanzania’s Young Africans in the first leg of the competition’s final on Sunday.

USMA took the lead with a goal in the first half by Ayman Mahyous, and Young Africans, who enjoyed a large support of about 50,000 fans, equalized through Viston Miley in the 82nd minute, then Islam Merili scored the winning goal for the Algerian team two minutes later.

Coach Abdelhak Ben Sheikha’s team is now in a strong position to win its first continental title when it hosts the return match next Saturday.

Young Africans striker Miley almost put his team ahead after 23 minutes but his shot from the left side went just wide of the goal line.

The visiting team took the lead through Mahyous with a header, after converting a free kick taken by Ibrahim Ben Zaza in the 32nd minute.

Usama bin Bout, the goalkeeper of USMA, saved a dangerous opportunity after a close-range shot from Modatiri Yahya, the Africans player, in the 69th minute.

And Young Africans did their best and equalized by Miley from the situation, flying and distinctively.

While the Union of the Capital responded quickly, as Khaled Bouslio paved the ball for his colleague Marelli, who fired from close range into the net.

The Tanzanian team holds the hopes of the East African region to achieve rare success in the continental club championships, as these teams achieved one continental title nearly 60 years ago.

The title went to Kenya’s Gormahia when he won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in its old version 36 years ago.