AS Maniema Union secured a crucial 2–1 home victory over USM Alger in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash, taking a slender advantage into the return fixture.
Playing in front of their home supporters, Maniema Union delivered a determined performance to overcome the Algerian side in a tightly contested encounter. The Congolese outfit made the most of their opportunities to claim the win and put themselves in a favorable position ahead of the decisive second leg.
USM Alger, however, managed to keep the tie alive by scoring an important goal, ensuring the deficit remains narrow heading into the return match. The Algerian club will now look to overturn the result on home soil when the teams meet again.
While Maniema Union will be encouraged by their first-leg success, the quarter-final remains finely balanced with everything still to play for as both sides chase a place in the semi-finals of the competition.