CAIRO — Egypt's Zamalek will face USM Alger of Algeria in the two-leg CAF Confederation Cup final, with a record $4 million prize awaiting the winners. The first leg will be played in Algiers on Saturday in front of a 50,000 crowd, with the return leg set for Cairo on May 16.

The Confederation of African Football recently raised the winners' prize to $4 million and the runners-up prize to $2 million. A third Confederation Cup title would also send Zamalek to the CAF Super Cup, an annual match between the winners of the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup, which carries a prize of $500,000. This season's Champions League winners will be either Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa or FAR Rabat of Morocco.

Zamalek lifted the Confederation Cup in 2019, when ex-Tottenham boss Christian Gross guided the club to victory over Renaissance Berkane in the final, and again in 2024 under Jose Gomes, also against Renaissance Berkane. The club is the second most successful in CAF competitions with 13 titles. USM Alger won the Confederation Cup in 2023, defeating Young Africans of Tanzania on away goals in that final.

Zamalek has reported debts of $6.5 million. Egyptian media report that the club owes transfer fees to clubs in Africa and Europe for players brought to Cairo. Ukrainian club Oleksandriya say they sold Brazilian striker Juan Bezerra to Zamalek and that some instalments are overdue. Gross, Gomes and some current and former players have turned to FIFA over unpaid wages or fees.

Zamalek reached this season's final by defeating Chabab Belouizdad in the semifinals, with Bezerra scoring the only goal of the first leg in Algiers before a goalless return. USM Alger edged Young Africans on away goals after two draws in this season's semifinals, with Ahmed Khaldi converting a penalty on the stroke of halftime in the second leg, which was marred by crowd trouble including a pre-match pitch invasion.

Zamalek have scored 17 goals in this season's competition. Bezerra and Seifeddine Jaziri have each netted four, with Oday Dabbagh adding three. Dramane Kamagate has scored six goals in the tournament, all for San Pedro before moving to USM Alger. Cameroonian defender Che Malone is likely to partner Hocine Dehiri in central defense for the Algerian side. The teams will be captained by full-backs Raadi Sadouani for USM Alger and Omar Gaber for Zamalek, with both squads featuring a mix of local and foreign players.

North African clubs have won 17 of the 22 Confederation Cup finals. This season, six of the eight quarterfinalists came from North Africa and all four semifinalists were North African clubs. Tunisian club CS Sfaxien and Renaissance Berkane each hold the record with three titles, while Étoile du Sahel, Raja Casablanca and Zamalek are among four clubs with two.

Egyptian Premier League leaders Zamalek will qualify for either the Champions League or the Confederation Cup next season. Algerian FA Cup winners USM Alger will return to the Confederation Cup.