Soweto derby avoids CAF Super Cup clash after Sundowns fixture moved

Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Super Cup match against USM Alger has been moved to 8 November, clearing the way for the first Soweto derby of the season to take place on its scheduled date.

The one-off meeting between Sundowns and the Confederation Cup winners will be played at Loftus Versfeld, shortly before the November FIFA international break.

The fixture had initially been scheduled for 31 October, the same day as the domestic clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. According to the PSL fixtures, the first league meeting between the two Soweto rivals will now go ahead on 31 October as planned.

The derby’s return to that date follows the pattern used for 26 of the 30 seasons since South Africa’s domestic football was established as the PSL.

The CAF Super Cup will offer more than silverware. The winners will receive USD500 000, approximately R8.2 million, while the runners-up will collect USD250 000, worth about R4.1 million.

The match gives Sundowns another major opportunity to add to their honours before Christmas, with the club aiming to take their trophy total in the PSL era to 30.

Four competitions could contribute to that target before the end of the year: the MTN8, the Carling KnockOut Cup, the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Sundowns’ Intercontinental Cup campaign is due to begin on 19 September, when they face the winner of the FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup match between Al Ahli Saudi FC and Auckland FC.

If Sundowns progress from that tie, they will play in the FIFA Challenger Cup against the winners of the meeting between the 2026 Copa Libertadores champions and the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, Deportivo Toluca FC.

The winner of that match will meet PSG in the final in December.

The rescheduling of the CAF Super Cup removes a potential conflict between one of Africa’s major club fixtures and South African football’s most prominent domestic rivalry. The Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs remains set for 31 October, while Sundowns will host USM Alger eight days later in Pretoria.

The adjustment also means Sundowns’ demanding schedule will continue into November, with the club competing for domestic, continental and international honours before the Christmas break. уларниң