OC Safi is preparing for a decisive second leg at Stade El Massira after securing a 0-0 draw away in Algeria in a tightly contested semi-final first leg.
The Moroccan club is scheduled to resume training today as they step up preparations for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final against USM Alger.
According to Al Omk Sport, head coach Shokri El Khouy granted his players a rest period of two days following their return from Algeria after the first leg, which ended in a goalless draw.
The team’s return to training was scheduled for today at 5:00 p.m. (GMT+1), giving the squad time to recover from a demanding away trip and an intense first-leg encounter.
Goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani will miss the second leg after receiving a red card in the first match. And his absence is expected to force the technical staff to rely on goalkeeper Youssef Mtiou for the decisive fixture.
The second leg will be played on Sunday, 19 April, at 8:00 p.m. local time at Stade El Massira in Safi, where a place in the final will be at stake.
First leg overview
The semi-final first leg in Algeria ended in a 0-0 draw between the two teams. The match was a cautious and tactical affair, with both sides prioritizing defensive stability over attacking risk-taking.
Olympic Safi managed to return from the away fixture with a balanced result that keeps qualification hopes fully open ahead of the return leg in Morocco. However, the encounter also came with a setback, as goalkeeper Hamza Hamiani was sent off, an incident that could have a significant impact on the second leg.
With everything still to play for, the tie now shifts to Safi, where the decisive match will determine who advances to the final.