CAF has approved the request from USM Alger and the FAF: both legs of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round against Equatorial Guinea’s Panthers FC will be played at the 5-Juillet stadium, with the Algiers supporters present.
The Confederation of African Football has officially given its approval to the request made by USM Alger and the Algerian Football Federation: Panthers FC, a club from Equatorial Guinea, will be hosted at the 5-Juillet Olympic Stadium in Algiers for both legs of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round. The information is reported by the Algérie Presse Service (APS).
The first leg is scheduled for Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 20:00, and the return leg for Sunday 25 October 2026 at 20:00, at the same venue. Notably, the first leg has been moved from the Douala stadium in Cameroon to the Algerian capital. This choice opens the stands of the 5-Juillet to the Algiers supporters for both matches.
A relocation confirmed by CAF
The USM Alger management has won its case. According to APS, the continental body approved the Algiers club’s proposal to host the Equatorial Guinean side in both the first and return legs in Algeria. “The match was thus relocated from the Douala stadium in Cameroon to the 5-Juillet Olympic Stadium, following the proposal made by the USM Alger management to host the Guinean club in both the first and return legs in Algeria, with the presence of supporters at both matches,” the club’s management said, cited by the Algerian news agency.
In practice, the two teams will meet twice in five days at the same stadium. Kick-off for each match is set for 20:00. For USMA, the advantage is twofold: playing in front of their own fans and avoiding a trip to Cameroon, initially planned for the first leg.
The reigning champions on home soil
USM Alger enter this round as the reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions. With that status, the Algiers club was exempted from the first preliminary round of the continental competition. They therefore begin their campaign with this double-header against the Panthers.
On the other side, the Equatorial Guineans caused a surprise in the first round by eliminating Benin’s ASPAC FC. Beaten 3-1 at home in the first leg, the Panthers qualified brilliantly by winning 4-2 in Benin in the return leg.
CR Belouizdad also in action
USM Alger are not the only Algerian representatives involved on this front. CR Belouizdad, the country’s other representative in the competition, will face AS Douanes of Nouakchott away on Saturday 17 October at 18:00, according to APS. An away trip for the Belouizdad side, while their compatriots from USMA will be playing at home.