Young Africans’ target for a first CAF Confederation Cup title started off on the wrong foot after falling 2-1 against USM Alger in the final first leg on a wet Sunday afternoon at the Benjamin Mkapa stadium.
Forward Aymen Mahious and Islam Merili scored for the visitors, while Fiston Mayele scored for the hosts.
Both sides didn’t register any talking points in the first half as the heavy downpour made the playing conditions challenging, but the visitors broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute.
Aymen Mahious rose highest to nod home Brahim Benzaza’s cross to send the small visiting crowd into wild celebrations as Alger managed to protect their lead at half time.
After recess, with the heavens clear, both sides opened up; Young Africans had to wait until the 82nd minute when in-form forward Fiston Mayele brilliantly controlled Yahaya Mudathir’s header to smash home at the near post and level the game 1-1.
But Algers were not done, launching a counter-attack which was finished off by Islam Merili just two minutes after Mayele had levelled the game.
The 2-1 loss means the Algerian side became the first side to defeat Young Africans on home soil in the competition since Pyramids in 2019.
Uganda Cranes assistant captain Khalid Aucho missed the first leg and won’t be available for the final through suspension.
Nabi Nasreddine’s charges will now have to dig deep to cancel out the two away goals they have conceded in Dar-es-Salaam. The second leg will take place on 3rd June in Algiers.
Mayele’s goal moved him to seven goals in the competition, making him the top scorer in the competition this season.
