USM Alger overcame Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium yesterday to win the CAF Super Cup for the second time.
The Algerian side, winners of the CAF Confederation Cup, secured victory through goals from Zakaria Draoui, captain Saadi Radouani and Ahmed Khaldi. Sundowns, who won the 2025/26 CAF Champions League before being eliminated from this season’s competition before the group stage, suffered another setback in African football.
The triumph adds to USM Alger’s first Super Cup success in 2023, when they defeated Al Ahly.
USMA made the stronger start and took the lead after only four minutes. Khaldi created space on the right before sending a low delivery into the area, where Draoui converted from close range.
Sundowns were forced into an early change when forward Brayan Leon went off injured. Iqraam Rayners came on in his place in the 17th minute.
The South African hosts were given an opportunity to respond eight minutes later after a VAR review resulted in a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded for an inadvertent handball by Achref Abada, who was struck by an Aubrey Modiba cross.
Rayners made no mistake from 12 yards, sending goalkeeper Oussama Benbot the wrong way to equalise in the 25th minute.
Sundowns almost moved in front shortly after the half-hour mark. Thapelo Morena glanced a Cassius Mailula cross towards goal, but Benbot produced a sharp dive to his right to keep the score level.
USM Alger restored their advantage from a corner in the 36th minute. The first delivery appeared to strike the crossbar after an aerial contest involving Khulumani Ndamane and Imadeddine Azzi, but Radouani reacted quickest to the rebound and headed in from close range.
Morena then missed a chance to equalise again before half-time. Thabang Matuludi’s low cross reached the midfielder in front of goal, but he lifted his shot over the crossbar in the 42nd minute.
The Algerian club took a 2-1 lead into the interval, although the second half was delayed by about 30 minutes because of a heavy rainstorm. Both teams made changes when play resumed, with Siyanda Ndlovu replacing Morena for Sundowns and Aime Tendeng coming on for Farid Boulaya for USMA.
USM Alger extended their lead 10 minutes into the second half. Khaldi moved infield from the right and curled a superb left-footed effort beyond the reach of Ronwen Williams to make it 3-1.
Khaldi and substitute Dramane Kamagate both went close to adding a fourth for the North African side.
Sundowns struggled to create a response, with their only significant opening coming when they had a goal ruled out with 10 minutes of normal time remaining because the ball had gone out of play over the byline.
