Mamelodi Sundowns face USM Alger in the 2026 CAF Super Cup at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, with the African Champions League winners taking on the CAF Confederation Cup holders.

Mamelodi Sundowns claimed the Champions League in May by beating AS FAR Rabat 1-0 in the first leg before a 1-1 draw in the return. USM Alger won their second CAF Confederation Cup after overcoming Zamalek on penalties, despite losing the second leg in Egypt 1-0 after a 1-0 home win (8-7 on penalties).

The South African champions are unbeaten since the end of August and currently lead their domestic championship. However, they were knocked out in the second preliminary round of this season’s Champions League by Angola’s Wiliete on the away-goals rule, which remains in use in CAF competitions.

That early exit ended a run of 12 successive appearances in the Champions League group stage. Mamelodi Sundowns have responded with three domestic victories: 1-0 against Marumo Gallants and Golden Arrows in the Carling Knockout Cup, followed by a 4-1 league win over Durban City.

History also favours the Champions League winners. In 34 editions of the CAF Super Cup, they have prevailed 26 times – almost 76% of the time. Mamelodi Sundowns previously lifted the trophy in that position in 2017, beating TP Mazembe 1-0.

The Brazilians have also been strong at home against North African opposition, defeating AS FAR Rabat 1-0 in last season’s Champions League final first leg, Esperance Tunis 1-0 in the semi-finals and MC Alger 2-0 in the decisive group match in 2025/2026.

USM Alger have yet to play a CAF inter-club match this season. They were exempted from the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup and then reached the group stage without playing after Equatorial Guinea’s Panthers withdrew in the second round.

The Rouge et Noir have made a solid start in Ligue 1, recording four wins, two draws and one defeat to sit fourth after seven matches. Following a 2-2 derby draw with CR Belouizdad, Lamine Ndiaye’s side beat CS Constantine 2-0.

USM Alger arrived in South Africa four days early to adjust to the austral summer. They can draw encouragement from their 2023 CAF Super Cup victory over Al Ahly, when they became one of only six CAF Confederation Cup winners to beat the Champions League holders.

Mamelodi Sundowns’ squad supplies 12 players to the South Africa team selected by Pitso Mosimane for two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Kenya. Among them are goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, one of the 10 nominees for the 2026 African Ballon d’Or, and forwards Siyanda Ndlovu and Iqraam Rayners.

Williams and Mokoena remain doubts despite their international call-ups, while right-back Khuliso Mudau is injured. USM Alger will have Oussama Benbot and Ahmed Khaldi available, but long-term absentees Houssam Ghacha and Mohamed Bouderbala will miss out. Raouf Benguit and Mohamed-Amine Ramdaoui, the club’s leading scorer this season with five goals, travelled despite being doubts.

The match will be played in the afternoon in temperatures of at least 25°C. Mamelodi Sundowns’ home advantage is significant, but their recent Champions League setback and selection concerns suggest a cautious prediction: a goalless draw, followed by penalties without extra time.https://www.zentralasien-expeditionen.de/