The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened an investigation after violent incidents marred the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final between Olympique Club de Safi (OCS) and Algeria's USM Alger on Sunday, April 20, 2026. The match, played at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, was delayed by approximately 45 minutes due to the disturbances.
Verified reports and video evidence confirm that clashes erupted before kick-off. Supporters of the visiting USM Alger team breached security barriers, leading to physical confrontations. Moroccan police intervened to separate the groups and restore order. The match eventually proceeded, ending in a 1-1 draw.
In an official statement, CAF condemned the acts of violence and confirmed the launch of a disciplinary investigation into the matter. The governing body stated it is gathering all official reports from the match officials, security authorities, and the host club before deciding on any potential sanctions.
The incident has drawn significant attention in North African sports media, highlighting ongoing tensions in football rivalries within the region. The return leg of the semi-final is scheduled to be played in Algeria next weekend.
