Mamelodi Sundowns’ hopes of winning the CAF Super Cup were left in tatters on Sunday afternoon, as they were outclassed 3-1 by USM Alger at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
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The Brazilians, who won the 2025/26 CAF Champions League but were recently dumped out of this season’s edition even before the group stage, suffered another African setback in this clash, as the CAF Confederation Cup champions from Algeria triumphed thanks to goals from Zakaria Draoui, Saadi Radouani and Ahmed Khaldi. It is the second Super Cup title for the Red and Blacks, adding to 2023 when they defeated Al Ahly.
USMA got off to a flying start and went ahead in just the fourth minute, with Khaldi doing great work down the right of the attack before playing in a low cross that was turned at home close range by Draoui for a 1-0 lead.
Sundowns were soon hit by another blow, as key forward Brayan Leon was forced to withdraw due to injury, and Iqraam Rayners replaced him in the 17th minute.
However, midway through the first half the hosts were handed a way back into the game, as a VAR review saw Sundowns awarded a somewhat fortunate penalty for an inadvertent hand-ball by Achref Abada from an Aubrey Modiba cross.
Rayners took the spot kick and expertly sent goalkeeper Oussama Benbot the wrong way to make it 1-1 in the 25th minute.
Sundowns nearly went ahead just past the half-hour mark when Thapelo Morena glanced on Cassius Mailula’s cross from the right, but Benbot made a sharp save diving to his right.
The Brazilians appeared to have momentum on their side, but the Red and Blacks reclaimed the ascendancy from a corner kick in the 36th minute: the initial delivery appeared to bounce off an aerial challenge between Khulumani Ndamane and Imadeddine Azzi and hit the crossbar, before captain Saadi Radouani reacted quickest to the rebound and headed home from close range for a 2-1 lead.
Sundowns should have levelled for a second time, in the 42nd minute, when Thabang Matuludi’s low cross found its way to Morena in front of goal, but the midfielder scooped an effort over the target.
The Algerian club led 2-1 at the break, and the second-half kick-off was delayed for roughly half an hour due to a heavy rainstorm. Both teams made changes at the start of the second stanza, with Siyanda Ndlovu replacing Morena for ‘Downs, and Aime Tendeng replacing Farid Boulaya for USMA.
The Red and Blacks added to their advantage 10 minutes into the second half, as Khaldi cut inside from the right and curled a brilliant left-footed shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to make it 3-1.
The North African team came close to adding to their lead via Khaldi and substitute Dramane Kamagate, while Sundowns’ only real threat of getting back into the game was a disallowed goal (for the ball running out of play at the byline) with 10 minutes of regulation time to play.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Rayners 25’ pen)
USM Alger (2) 3 (Draoui 4’, Radouani 36’, Khaldi 55’)
SUNDOWNS: Williams, Matuludi (Zwane 84’), Khoza, Ndamane, Modiba (Basadien 84’), Morena (Ndlovu 46’), Mokoena, Allende, Matthews, Mailula (Van Wyk 58’), Leon (Rayners 17’)
USMA: Benbot, Radouani, Azzi, Abada, Mahrouz, Draoui (Malone 83’), Loucif, Likonza, Boulaya (Tendeng 46’), Khaldi (Guenaoui 88’), Ramdaoui (Kamagate 70’)