MC Alger face a defining night in their CAF Champions League campaign when they host Sudanese side Al Hilal on Friday, knowing that only a victory will keep their qualification hopes alive.
The Algerian club will be the first of the country’s four representatives in African competition to play their fifth group-stage match, welcoming the Group C leaders to the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Douéra for an 8:00pm kick-off.
The remaining Algerian sides — JS Kabylie, CR Belouizdad and USM Alger — are all scheduled to play later in the weekend.
The task facing Mouloudia Club d’Alger is a demanding one.
Al Hilal arrive in Algiers sitting top of Group C with eight points, having set the early pace in a tightly contested section.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns are second with five points, while MC Alger and DR Congo’s Saint Éloi Lupopo are locked together on four points.
That table leaves MCA with little room for error. Anything other than a win would severely damage their chances of progressing, even if qualification were to come via one of the best third-placed finishes across the groups.
The stakes have sharpened the focus within the Algerian camp, where the message has been clear throughout the week.
Head coach Rulhani Mokwena underlined the importance of the occasion, insisting that his side must deliver in front of their supporters.
“A victory will allow us to increase our chances of qualifying; that is our objective,” he said.
MCA will hope that home advantage can tilt the balance in their favour, with a large and vocal crowd expected in Douéra.
Yet Al Hilal have made it clear they are prepared for the challenge.
The Sudanese champions have shown consistency throughout the group stage and are determined to protect their position at the summit.
Their head coach, Laurentiu Reghecampf, warned that his team would not be distracted by the atmosphere.
“We will face Mouloudia in front of their fans in their beloved stadium. There will certainly be a lot of pressure, but we must ignore that to try and win and consolidate our position at the top of the table,” he said.
Group C remains finely balanced heading into the final rounds.
The other fixture sees Mamelodi Sundowns travel on Sunday to face Lupopo, a match between two sides with identical ambitions of claiming all three points and strengthening their own qualification prospects.
For MC Alger, however, attention is firmly fixed on Friday night, when their continental future will be tested against one of the competition’s most in-form sides.
