According to KickOff Magazine, Mamelodi Sundowns’ 3-1 defeat to USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup at Loftus Versfeld in front of home fans involved injuries and severe weather, although coach Miguel Cardoso did not consider the conditions the sole reason for the result.

Sundowns had hoped to add another continental honour after winning the 2025/26 CAF Champions League. The loss followed their earlier elimination from the 2026/27 Champions League qualifying rounds by Angola’s Wiliete SC.

Preparations were disrupted before kick-off when Nuno Santos, named in the starting line-up, suffered an injury during the warm-up. Cassius Mailula replaced him. The problems continued after the match began, as striker Brayan Leon was forced off and Iqraam Rayners came on.

Rayners brought Sundowns level in the 25th minute, converting a penalty awarded after a VAR review. USM Alger had taken the lead through Zakaria Draoui in the fourth minute, then restored their advantage before half-time. Saadi Radouani scored in the 37th minute after a rebound from a corner.

The visitors strengthened their position ten minutes into the second half. Ahmed Khaldi curled the ball beyond goalkeeper Ronwen Williams after an individual effort to make it 3-1. USM Alger defended their lead until the final whistle.

Weather added another complication for Cardoso’s team. Strong winds affected play during the first half, while heavy rain later left the pitch difficult for Sundowns’ passing approach. The second half was delayed by about 35 minutes as officials waited for conditions to improve.

Cardoso said: "We could still play the way we wanted to play although the wind was trying to make it difficult for us." He acknowledged that the wet surface made the team’s player-to-player passing more challenging.

However, the coach did not use the weather to excuse the defeat. He pointed to defensive mistakes and missed opportunities, saying cup finals can be decided by small details. USM Alger were more clinical, while Sundowns failed to convert enough attacking moments.

The result leaves Cardoso’s players needing to regroup and turn their attention to domestic competition. He urged them to learn from the disappointment and respond positively.

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