Brayan León’s brace secured Mamelodi Sundowns’ spot in the Caf Champions League knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over MC Alger at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
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The hosts proved too strong for the returning Rulani Mokwena, whose men could not penetrate the Brazilians’ defence.
The former Sundowns coach’s return was not what he would have hoped for, as his side will turn their attention to claiming a third consecutive Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 title.
MC Alger ended their campaign on seven points, having managed two wins, one draw and three losses.
Masandawana claimed second place in group C, ending their group stage run with nine points taken from two wins, three draws and one loss. Having now survived, head coach Miguel Cardoso will shift his focus to returning his team to the final, where they fell to Pyramids last year.
The first shot of the game came from the hosts in the third minute, as Jayden Adams smacked a half-volley attempt from the edge of the area, which went just wide of the left post.
Sundowns took advantage of the early pressure they applied and opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Arthur Sales forced Algerian international goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz into a save with a shot from just inside the box. Guendouz could not hold onto the ball, which spilt into Brayan León’s path, and the Colombian buried the ball into the back of the net from close range.
In the 14th minute, Oussama Benhaoua aimed to find the top right corner from the right edge of the box, but his shot was stopped easily by Ronwen Williams.
Sales forced Ayoub Abdellaoui to turn the ball over close to his own penalty area in the 23rd minute, allowing León to look for an arriving teammate in the box. However, his cross was intercepted by Guendouz, although unconvincingly.
MC Alger came close to converting from a corner in the 25th minute. The ball was whipped into the near post, where it received a flick on towards Moslem Anatouf in the middle of the box. But he sent the ball over the bar from in front of the goal.
León came close to doubling his tally and Sundowns’ lead in the 30th minute. From a corner, Aubrey Modiba played the ball short to Thapelo Morena, whose cross found León running onto the ball for a header, but he could not direct the ball on target.
DOMINANT DOWNS
The Brazilians came close again in the 45th minute as Teboho Mokoena unleashed an effort from outside the box, which grazed the top of the crossbar.
The hosts’ dominant first-half performance was reflected in the statistics at the break, boasting three shots on target to MC Alger’s one and enjoying 66 per cent of the possession.
Centre back Mohamed Zougrana showed his attacking abilities in the 50th minute, attempting a rocket from the edge of the box. Despite the power behind it, Williams plucked the ball out of the air expertly.
León found his second to put Sundown firmly in the driving seat in the 63rd minute. Aubrey Modiba fired a cross into the near post and the Colombian snuck between two covering defenders to nudge it home, catching Guendouz off guard.
In the 78th minute, Morena put the ball into the six-yard box, nearly finding León for his hat-trick, but the forward could not make contact with the ball, which sailed narrowly past the face of the goal.
Despite their hurried and late attempts to rescue the game, MC Alger could not find the back of the net, bringing to an end their 2025-26 continental campaign.
Mamelodi Sundowns will march on and await the announcement of their quarterfinal opponent.
Mamelodi Sundowns (2) (B. León 6’, 63’)
MC Alger 0
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS: R. Williams, K. Ndamane, T. Mokoena, A. Modiba, J. Adams, A. Sales (T. Zwane 73’), B. León (P. Shalulile 84’), T. Matthews (M. Allende 61’), G. Kekana, K. Mudau, T. Morena
MC ALGER: A. Guendouz, Y. Gassi, M. Zougrana (A. Bangoura 73’), A. Abdellaoui, M. Khelif, L. Tabti (M. Halaima 46’), A. Ghezala, O. Benhaoua, M. Anatouf (M. Banoura 46’), Z. Naidji (C. Boukholda 73’), Z. Ferhat (A. Messoussa 73’)