USM Alger win CAF Super Cup with 3-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns

USM Alger, the Algerian football team, has won the CAF Super Cup for a second time, defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The match was marked by a masterclass performance from Ahmed Khaldi, who played a crucial role in the victory. Sundowns, the reigning Champions League winners, were favourites to win but were left bruised and beaten. The Algerians took control of the game from the early minutes, with Zakaria Draoui scoring in the fourth minute.

Sundowns' afternoon began to go wrong before kick-off, with Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos injuring himself in the warm-up. Coach Miguel Cardoso had to make a forced change, throwing Cassius Mailula into the starting XI. The Algerians took advantage of this, with Khaldi surging into the box from the right and rolling a low ball across goal, allowing Draoui to tap in from close range. The nightmare worsened for Sundowns after 15 minutes, when striker Brayan León limped off with an apparent groin injury.

Sundowns did respond to the setbacks, with Iqraam Rayners, León's replacement, involved in the penalty award. He sent Oussama Benbot the wrong way in the 25th minute to level the score. However, the hosts failed to take their chances, with Thapelo Morena meeting a Mailula delivery, but Benbot making the save of the half. The miss proved costly, as USM Alger took the lead again in the 37th minute, with Saadi Radouani heading home the rebound from a corner.

The second half was delayed due to weather conditions, but the storm outside was no match for the one USM Alger brought. In the 55th minute, Khaldi found space on the edge of the box, cut inside, and curled a shot beyond Ronwen Williams into the far corner. He had created the first goal and scored the third, effectively ending the contest. Sundowns pushed for a comeback, but met an organised and disciplined defence.

Sundowns' attempts to get back into the game were thwarted by the Algerian defence, with Williams keeping the score respectable with a fingertip save from a Khaldi volley and a diving stop to deny Dramane Kamagaté. The final blow was cruel, as the ball ended up in the Algerian net via an own goal late on, but VAR ruled that it had crossed the touchline earlier in the move, chalking off the goal.

The victory marks a proud moment for USM Alger, who lifted the trophy in 2023 and added a second on Pretoria soil. They pocketed USD 500,000 and cemented their place among Africa's leading clubs. The win also highlights the growing influence of the Confederation Cup winners, with four of the last five Super Cups going to teams from the competition.

The defeat is a troubling stretch for Sundowns, who were knocked out of the 2026/27 Champions League in the qualifying rounds by Angola's Wiliete SC. The reigning champions will not even defend their crown in the group stage. Injuries, a sharp opponent, and a thin margin for error have turned a golden era into a testing one for the South African team.

Key points

• USM Alger won the CAF Super Cup for a second time, defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
• Ahmed Khaldi played a crucial role in the victory, creating the first goal and scoring the third.
• The win highlights the growing influence of the Confederation Cup winners, with four of the last five Super Cups going to teams from the competition.