Tactically, Abdelhak Benchikha seems to be gradually finding the ideal formula to get the best out of his squad. While the 4-4-2 had delivered satisfactory results in previous wins against AFAD, ES Sétif, and ASO Chlef, the coach surprised everyone by opting for a 3-4-3 against CRB. It was a bold but effective choice, as it allowed them to lock down all the spaces and neutralise the opposing attackers. The defensive discipline displayed was one of the positive points of the match, showing better collective cohesion and a more compact team block. Another reason for satisfaction is that Benchikha now appears to know his group perfectly. He understands how to exploit each player’s qualities and in what role to make them shine. Players like Islam Merili, Brahim Benzaza, and Houssem Ghacha have found a certain consistency in their performances, confirming that they have become key players in the coach’s system. This individual and collective stability forms a solid base on which the staff can build for the rest of the season.
The overall performance remains improvable, particularly offensively, where the team still struggles to be consistent in creation and finishing. However, the signs are positive: the tactical balance is there, defensive discipline too, and the solidarity between lines is beginning to bear fruit. USMA must now capitalise on this momentum and continue to collect points, even in difficult circumstances. The most important thing at this stage is not necessarily the style but the continuity of results. If the Red and Black manage to improve their content while maintaining this positive run, they will quickly regain their standing and ambitions. There is still work for Benchikha to do to finally have a USMA team that wins with both art and method.
Emmanuel Ernest is officially on the list of released players. He is the second player to leave USM Alger before even the halfway point of the current season. The Liberian striker has been asked to negotiate his departure after returning from his homeland. Signed at the very end of the summer transfer window, Emmanuel Ernest never managed to impose himself in the USM Alger colours. Arriving with the hope of bringing an offensive boost to a team seeking effectiveness in front of goal, he ultimately failed to deliver as expected. His adventure at the Algerian club ends barely a few months after his arrival. From his first appearances, Ernest did not convince. Despite the trust given to him by coach Abdelhak Benchikha, the player did not seize the opportunity. The coach eventually excluded him from his plans. Permitted to travel to his homeland to renew his visa, Ernest will no longer wear the red and black jersey. According to a reliable source, USMA has decided to terminate his contract. The decision was made by Benchikha and endorsed by the management. The player will be asked to negotiate his departure upon his return from Liberia, with the hope of an amicable separation.
USM Alger’s management announced on Monday via a statement that they received official notification from CAF specifying the schedule for their two upcoming group stage matches in the Confederation Cup, against San Pedro (Ivory Coast) and Olympique Safi (Morocco). The match against the Moroccan side Olympique Safi, initially scheduled for Sunday 30 November, will now take place on Friday 28 November, “to allow players called up for the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 to join their national teams,” the Algerian club said. “CAF has not yet decided on the host stadium for the match against the Moroccan team, pending the approval of their stadium. If rejected, the match will be relocated to another city, which will be announced later,” USMA concluded.
As a reminder, USMA had qualified for the group stage by eliminating the Ivorians of AFAD Academy (first leg: 0-1, return leg: 3-0).