USM Alger won the CAF Super Cup for a second time by beating African champions Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.
Zakaria Draoui, Saadi Radouani and Ahmed Khaldi scored for the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup winners, while Iqraam Rayners replied from the penalty spot for the South African side.
The victory earned USM Alger USD 500,000 and continued the recent success of Confederation Cup winners in the annual meeting between Africa’s two major club champions. Four of the past five CAF Super Cup titles have now gone to TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup winners, with Egypt’s Pyramids FC the only TotalEnergies CAF Champions League winner to lift the trophy in that period.
USM Alger, who also won the competition in 2023, followed their latest TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup success against Zamalek, when they prevailed on penalties.
Khaldi makes decisive contribution
USM Alger took the lead after only four minutes. Khaldi moved into the area from the right, escaped a challenge and sent a low cross across goal for Draoui to score from close range.
Sundowns suffered an injury setback before kick-off when Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos was hurt during the warm-up. Coach Miguel Cardoso replaced him with Cassius Mailula, but was forced into another change after 15 minutes when striker Brayan Leon went off with an apparent groin injury.
Rayners replaced Leon and quickly made an impact. Sundowns were awarded a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee review for handball, and Rayners sent Oussama Benbot the wrong way in the 25th minute.
The hosts nearly moved in front when Thapelo Morena met Mailula’s delivery, but Benbot made an important save. USM Alger then regained the lead in the 37th minute after a corner. An initial header struck the crossbar before Radouani reacted fastest to head in the rebound.
The second half started late because of adverse weather, but USM Alger soon extended their advantage. Khaldi cut inside from the edge of the area in the 55th minute and curled an excellent shot beyond Ronwen Williams into the far corner.
Sundowns tried to respond through Teboho Mokoena and Tashreeq Matthews, while Cardoso introduced Antonio van Wyk to add attacking threat. However, the hosts found it difficult to break down an organised USM Alger defence.
Williams kept the deficit at two by making a fingertip save from Khaldi’s volley and later turning Dramane Kamagate’s low effort around the post. Sundowns appeared to score an own goal late on, but VAR ruled it out after the ball had crossed the touchline earlier in the move.
The defeat came after Sundowns’ successful 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign, which ended with victory over AS FAR. They were also eliminated from the 2026/27 CAF Champions League qualifying rounds by Angola’s Wiliete SC and will not defend their title in this season’s Group Stage.
