N’Diaye explains tactics behind USM Alger’s Super Cup victory over Sundowns

USM Alger head coach Lamine N’Diaye has explained the tactical changes that helped his side defeat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 to win the CAF Super Cup on Sunday.

The Algerian side produced an impressive display at Loftus Versfeld, with goals from Zakaria Draoui, Saadi Radouani and Ahmed Khaldi securing the continental title.

Iqraam Rayners scored Sundowns’ only goal from the penalty spot, but the South African champions struggled to recover after conceding a second goal before half-time.

Speaking after the match, N’Diaye revealed that his technical team adopted a different formation to disrupt Sundowns’ style of play, particularly their approach to building attacks from the back.

The USM Alger coach said his team switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with the aim of putting pressure on Sundowns and exploiting mistakes in midfield.

“Sundowns is the best team in Africa. They have been very good in the last five years and they play very good football,” N’Diaye told the media.

“We came here not just to play, but we came here to win, to play to win, not just to play, and we did that.

“We had our chances and we scored. Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t score.”

N’Diaye explained that the decision to change formation was influenced by Sundowns’ preference for building attacks through their goalkeeper and central defenders.

“We had to change our organisation. We had to play 4-4-2, and we know that Sundowns like to start the game from the goalkeeper or from the two centre-backs,” he added.

The coach also disclosed that injuries to two of his players limited his side’s ability to maintain an aggressive pressing approach throughout the match.

Instead, USM Alger focused on capitalising on Sundowns’ mistakes when playing out from the back, a strategy that ultimately paid dividends.

“We wanted to press them, but we had two players coming from injuries. So those players, we knew that we could not force them to press.

“And as human beings, sometimes they lose the ball in the midfield, and we wanted to capitalise on those losses, and they did lose the ball.

“Our two players focused on scoring, and we had some chances as we prepared it,” he said.

The victory represents a major achievement for USM Alger, who claimed one of African club football’s biggest honours with their impressive performance against the reigning continental champions.

N’Diaye described the triumph as a significant moment for the club and the wider African football community.

“So it’s a trophy from Africa, it’s a big trophy for the continent and for us and the club,” he concluded.