Source: @CAF Online
Mamelodi Sundowns have another opportunity to underline their standing in African football when they take on USM Alger in the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup on Sunday, 8 November.
Loftus Versfeld will host the contest, which brings together the reigning CAF Champions League winners and the holders of the CAF Confederation Cup. The Pretoria club earned their place after conquering Africa’s premier club competition, while USM Alger booked their ticket with success in the Confederation Cup.
The fixture offers a meeting between two clubs with considerable continental pedigree, although their recent experiences have taken different turns.
Sundowns know the demands of this competition, having lifted the CAF Super Cup in 2017 after beating TP Mazembe 1-0. A second triumph would add another accolade to a trophy cabinet that already includes the continent’s most prestigious club honour.
USM Alger also have previous success to draw upon. The Algerian side won the 2023 CAF Super Cup, defeating Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly 1-0. Their record in the competition gives them a credible claim to the title, rather than the status of outsiders travelling to face a home favourite.
Sundowns Seek a Response After Champions League Setback
The circumstances surrounding Sundowns’ latest continental campaign add an extra dimension to Sunday’s fixture.
Miguel Cardoso’s team experienced the highs of international competition earlier in the year, beating Saudi opposition to lift the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. They also secured qualification for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, another achievement that underlines their standing on the global stage.
However, their subsequent elimination from the 2026/27 CAF Champions League at the hands of Angolan side Wiliete came as a major setback. An early departure from a competition they have worked hard to dominate was not the continental campaign Sundowns would have anticipated.
The CAF Super Cup now presents a chance to put that disappointment behind them, although USM Alger are unlikely to make life easy. The visitors have their own continental pedigree and will fancy their chances against a Sundowns side that has already experienced the frustration of an early exit this season.
Home advantage could prove valuable for the Brazilians, particularly with the Loftus Versfeld crowd behind them. However, the Algerians have demonstrated their ability to win against Africa’s elite, so Sundowns cannot afford to underestimate the task.
Both sides have previously lifted the trophy, but only one can add another CAF Super Cup title to their collection on Sunday.
