Source: @CAF Online
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Super Cup 2026 encounter with USM Alger will be officiated by one of Africa’s most experienced referees, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appointing Mauritania’s Dahane Beida to oversee the continental final.
The 34-year-old will take charge when the reigning CAF Champions League winners host Algeria’s Confederation Cup champions at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday, 8 November.
Beida’s appointment puts a referee with extensive international experience in charge of a fixture featuring two clubs that have established themselves among Africa’s continental heavyweights.
His credentials extend well beyond African club football. Beida officiated the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast in February 2024 and was selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
He also refereed the 2023 FIFA Under-17 World Cup final in Indonesia and has experience officiating CAF Champions League fixtures.
Those assignments have exposed him to contrasting playing styles, demanding match situations and the scrutiny that accompanies football’s biggest occasions.
For the Super Cup 2026, that experience could prove valuable in a contest where disciplinary decisions, physical challenges and the management of stoppages could have a direct bearing on the result.
Sundowns Return to Familiar Territory for Super Cup 2026
Beida will be assisted by Senegal’s Djibril Camara and Cameroon’s Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue, while fellow Mauritanian Abdelaziz Bouh has been appointed fourth official.
Mauritania’s Babacar Sarr will oversee video assistant referee duties, supported by officials from Cameroon and Sudan.
The appointment comes ahead of a fixture that offers Sundowns an opportunity to repeat their 2017 Super Cup success, when they defeated DR Congo’s TP Mazembe at the same Pretoria venue.
Loftus has been a fortress for the Brazilians during numerous continental campaigns, although home advantage alone will offer few guarantees against an Algerian side with considerable experience in knockout football.
USM Alger previously lifted the Super Cup in 2023 after defeating Egyptian giants Al Ahly 1-0, demonstrating their ability to hold their nerve against elite African opposition.
Sundowns secured their place in this edition after defeating Morocco’s AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate in the Champions League final. USM Alger, meanwhile, overcame Zamalek in a penalty shootout to claim the Confederation Cup.
Beyond the trophy, the winners will receive $500,000, approximately R8.2 million, while the runners-up will collect $250,000, approximately R4.1 million.
With both previous winners returning to familiar territory, the November encounter promises a compelling examination of their continental credentials.
