Algeria’s USM Alger continues to battle in what looked an hopeless situation in a bid to upturn a decision of the Committee for the Organization of Interclub Competitions and the Management of the Club Licensing System which awarded the first leg match of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final duel to the visiting RS Berkane of Morocco.

The continental body on Friday confirmed the verdict of the Organising Committee and thus threw away the appeal by Algeria.

The Appeal Committee of CAF rejected the Algerian club’s requests.

The USM Algiers club delegation has arrived Morocco through the the Oujda-Angad airport. They were warmly welcome by Moroccan officials led by Belaqchour, the President of the professional national league.

The team arrived at around 5 p.m., aboard a special plane from Algiers. Also on hand to receive them were officials of  Berkane officials.

It took the Algerians  just 15 minutes from landing to leaving the airport. They were greeted by a large number of fans.

The Algerians have an Herculean task of overturning a 3-0 deficit awarded to RS Berkane in the botched first leg match. The return leg match will hold on Sunday at the Berkane municipal stadium at 8 p.m.

The decision to play the second leg in Berkane comes as USM Alger seeks to avoid additional sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which could include a ban from participating in African competitions for up to four years.

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.”