WeeklySA_AdminCONTINENTAL: African champions Mamelodi Sundowns chase a second continental trophy of the year when they face Algeria’s USM Alger in Sunday’s CAF Super Cup showdown at Loftus Versfeld…
By WSAM Sports Reporter
Mamelodi Sundowns have the stage, the home support and the opportunity to crown their return to the summit of African football with another continental trophy.
The newly crowned African champions host Algeria’s USM Alger in the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Sunday, November 8. Kick-off is at 15h00.
Having secured their second CAF Champions League title — a decade after their first — the Brazilians now aim to complete a continental double by adding the Super Cup to their collection.
Victory would also deliver their second Super Cup crown, following their 1–0 triumph over Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe in 2017.
Having conquered Africa after a decade-long wait, Sundowns are one victory away from adding another continental crown…
But Sundowns face opponents who know how to win this once-off contest. USM Alger lifted the trophy in 2023, beating Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly 1–0, and arrive in Pretoria as Confederation Cup champions with ambitions of their own.
Beyond the silverware and prestige, the winners will pocket US$500,000, with US$250,000 going to the runners-up.
For Sundowns, Sunday’s encounter offers an opportunity to build on a Champions League campaign that demanded both attacking authority and the resilience to survive some uncomfortable moments.
Their journey began emphatically with a 7–1 aggregate demolition of Nigeria’s Remo Stars in the second preliminary round, including a commanding 5–1 away victory. The group stage proved considerably tougher.
Drawn alongside Sudan’s Al Hilal, Algeria’s MC Alger and Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sundowns opened with a 3–1 home victory over Lupopo before a sequence of draws and a defeat left their qualification hanging on the final fixture.
They responded when it mattered. Brayan Leon’s brace against MC Alger secured the victory required to carry them into the quarter-finals.
Another examination awaited against Mali’s Stade Malien. A convincing 3–0 first-leg win in Pretoria appeared to put Sundowns firmly in control, only for the return match in Bamako to test their nerve.
Trailing 2–0 at half-time, the South Africans held firm through the second half to squeeze through 3–2 on aggregate.
Their semi-final performance was more assured. Leon scored in both legs against Tunisia’s Esperance, delivering successive 1–0 victories and a place in the final against Morocco’s AS FAR.
Aubrey Modiba’s goal gave Sundowns a narrow first-leg advantage in Pretoria. When AS FAR levelled the aggregate score from the penalty spot in Rabat, Teboho Mokoena supplied the decisive response.
His equaliser in first-half stoppage time secured a 1–1 away draw and a 2–1 aggregate triumph, ending Sundowns’ decade-long wait for a second Champions League crown.
USM Alger’s passage to Sunday’s showdown was equally dramatic. They defeated Egypt’s Zamalek 8–7 on penalties after their two-legged Confederation Cup final finished 1–1 on aggregate, securing a second title in that competition.
History offers Sundowns some encouragement: they won both previous CAF meetings between the clubs during the 2019/20 Champions League group stage, prevailing 1–0 in Algiers and 2–1 at home.
Those results, however, will count for little once Sunday’s contest begins. Against opponents with continental pedigree, Sundowns must produce one more winning performance to turn home advantage into another African celebration.
