Ndiaye praises ‘best team in Africa’ after USM Alger stun Sundowns

USM Alger coach Lamine Ndiaye says his side’s CAF Super Cup victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus is one of the club’s most important achievements, despite describing their opponents as “the best team in Africa”.

The Algerian club secured the trophy after taking their chances in a match in which Sundowns were unable to convert theirs. The result delivered another surprise triumph for USM Alger, who also defeated then African champions Al Ahly to win the title in 2023.

It is the club’s second Super Cup title since 2023 and adds to the Confederation Cup success achieved since Ndiaye took charge.

“Sundowns is the best team in Africa, they have been so consistent and play very good football, but we came here not just to play, we play finals to win, we did that,” Ndiaye said.

“We had our chances and scored, they couldn’t from their chances, the trophy means a lot for us and for the club.”

Ndiaye, a former CAF Champions League winner with TP Mazembe and a FIFA Club World Cup silver medallist, explained how USM Alger set up to disrupt Sundowns’ build-up play.

The visitors used a 4-4-2 formation and attempted to press Sundowns, although Ndiaye said two players returning from injury limited the intensity they could apply.

“We played a 4-4-2 to try and stop Sundowns to play out from defence, we wanted to press them, but we had two players coming from injury who we couldn’t force them to press,” he said.

The USM Alger coach also identified midfield turnovers as an area his side could exploit. His players were able to turn those opportunities into goals and hold on to claim the trophy.

“We know they could lose the ball in midfield, and we try to capitalise on that transitions, we buried the chances we got.”

USM Alger will now enter the FIFA International break before beginning their CAF Confederation Cup group-stage campaign.

They have been drawn in Group D alongside AS Bamako, Red Bulls and CS Sfaxien, with Ndiaye’s team aiming to make a positive start after their latest continental success.