Mamelodi Sundowns and USM Alger meet in CAF Super Cup showdown

Sunday’s 2026 CAF Super Cup at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium will pit African champions Mamelodi Sundowns against USM Alger, winners of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns defeated AS FAR Rabat 1-0 and 1-1 to claim the Champions League in May, while USM Alger secured a second Confederation Cup despite losing the second leg in Egypt, beating Zamalek 8-7 on penalties after a 1-0, 0-1 aggregate score.

The South African champions arrive with contrasting form. They lead their domestic league and have not lost since the end of August, but were knocked out in the second qualifying round of the Champions League by Angola’s Wiliete on the away-goals rule, which remains in use in CAF competitions.

That early exit ended Sundowns’ run of 12 successive appearances in the Champions League group stage. Miguel Cardoso’s side 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 favours the Champions League winners. They have won 26 of the 34 previous CAF Super Cup editions, approximately 76% of the time. Sundowns also lifted the trophy in 2017, beating TP Mazembe 1-0.

Their home record against North African opposition is another positive. They defeated AS FAR Rabat 1-0 in the first leg of last season’s Champions League final, overcame Esperance Tunis 1-0 in the semi-finals and beat MC Alger 2-0 in the decisive final group match in 2025/2026.

USM Alger, meanwhile, have yet to play a CAF inter-club match this season. They were exempted from the opening round of the Confederation Cup and then reached the group stage after Equatorial Guinea’s Panthers withdrew from the second qualifying round.

Lamine Ndiaye’s team are fourth in Ligue 1 after seven matches, with four wins, two draws and one defeat. Following a 2-2 derby draw with CR Belouizdad, they beat CS Constantine 2-0 in their latest fixture.

Their away results in sub-Saharan Africa last season were mixed: victories over AFAD Djekanou and San Pedro in Cote d’Ivoire, a draw with Mali’s Djoliba and a defeat by Maniema Union in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. USM Alger arrived in South Africa four days early to adjust to the austral summer and can draw encouragement from their 2023 Super Cup victory over Al Ahly, when they became one of only six Confederation Cup winners to defeat the Champions League holders.

Teboho Mokoena and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams are doubts after joining South Africa’s squad for two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Kenya. Twelve Sundowns players were selected by Pitso Mosimane, including Aubrey Modiba, Siyanda Ndlovu and Iqraam Rayners. Khuliso Mudau is injured.

USM Alger will have Oussama Benbot and Ahmed Khaldi, a contender for Africa’s Interclub Player of the Year award, available. Houssam Ghacha and Mohamed Bouderbala remain sidelined, while Raouf Benguit and five-goal top scorer Mohamed-Amine Ramdaoui are doubts.

With temperatures expected to reach at least 25°C for the afternoon kick-off, home advantage could prove decisive. However, Sundowns’ recent Champions League setback and their absences suggest caution. If Mokoena and Williams play, Sundowns may prevail; otherwise, a goalless draw and a penalty shoot-out without extra time is the predicted outcome.