Ghana’s Dreams FC coach, Karim Zito, announced on Friday that he is diligently preparing his players for a potential penalty shootout against Zamalek in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, scheduled for Sunday.

The first leg match concluded with a goalless draw  between the two teams in Cairo last week, and the upcoming second leg will take place in Kumasi, ultimately determining the team that will qualify for the final.

“We ended with penalty shootouts, and out of the twenty-four (24) players, only three (3) of them could not score, so we are ready if it comes down to penalties,” Zito stated during an interview with Kumasi-based Akoma FM.

He further added, “Let me say that we are hoping to secure qualification in regulation time on Sunday.”

During the first leg game in Cairo, Zamalek missed several clear goal-scoring opportunities, leaving them with no alternative but to avoid a loss in Ghana in order to advance to the final of the competition.

USM Alger of Algeria who were sanctioned with forfeiture and three-goal deficit for last Sunday Confederation Cup first leg semi-final duel have heaped all the blames on the Football Association of Algeria (FAF).

According to 360 Sport, the supporters of the Algerian club believed that USM was made a scapegoat by FAF which is the body to bear all the consequences of the the botched first leg match.

In a message posted on social networks, fans of the Algerian club raised their voices, reminding, in a severe but also playful tone, truths to the governing body of football in their country.

One of the supporters raised a poser: “Do you know that the federation asked the team to travel to Morocco and play against the Berkane club knowing that the latter will play with the jersey that was confiscated?”

The reason, they argue, is that the FAF is trying to “escape possible sanctions which could fall on the national team and the Algerian clubs participating in the African cups”.

“ We were a scapegoat ”
In their missive, the Algerian supporters go further by asserting: “everything is clear… We were a scapegoat par excellence. We urge the club not to travel to Morocco. “All Algerian football must be sanctioned and not just the USMA club.”

It is now official and has moved from the realm of speculations. Algeria’s USM Alger have forfeited their home match in the cancelled CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first leg duel with Morocco’s RS Berkane.

An official letter signed by Nigeria’s Samson Adamu has been addressed to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF). Adamu is CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events.

In the ;etter dated April 24, 2024 and sent to Nadir Bouzenad, the General Secretary of FAF, the English translation reads:

Algerian Football Federation (FAF)

 “Subject: Match No 129 USMA (Algeria) vs.  RS Berkane (Morocco) of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024

 At its meeting held on April 24, the Committee for the Organization of Interclub Competitions and the Management of the Club Licensing System decided the following:

 1. Sanction Club USMA with a forfeit of 0-3 for match no.129 USMA (Algeria) vs RS Berkane (Morocco) of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024.

 2. Submit the case to the Disciplinary Jury for possible additional sanctions.

 3. The return match RS Berkane (Morocco) vs USMA (Algeria) of the TotalEnergies Confederation Cup 2023/2024 – at the Municipal Stadium of Berkane – 8:00 p.m. (local time) on April 28, 2024 is maintained.”

It is however doubtful if USM will honour Sunday’s return match as Algeria pulled out of an Arab Handball Championship for the same reason that scuttled the CAF Confederation Cup match last Sunday.

The Algerians pulled out of a scheduled handball fixture against Morocco because of the map of the Moroccans’ shirts. Pulling out of the Confederation Cup return leg may also attract further sanctions as CAF has indicated.