By Amaechi Agbo
Algeria’s USM Alger claimed their second CAF Super Cup title after defeating African champions Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 in Pretoria on Sunday, with Ahmed Khaldi produc-ing an outstanding performance to inspire victory over the South African giants.
Goals from Zakaria Draoui, Saadi Radouani and Khaldi secured the trophy for the reign-ing CAF Confederation Cup winners at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, denying Sundowns the opportunity to add another continental honour to their collection.
Iqraam Rayners scored from the penalty spot for Sundowns, but the hosts were unable to recover from a difficult afternoon during which injuries disrupted their preparations and forced coach Miguel Cardoso into two early changes.
The victory earned USM Alger USD 500,000 in prize money and continued an impres-sive recent record for Confederation Cup winners in the annual contest between the holders of Africa’s two major club competitions.
Four of the last five CAF Super Cup titles have now been won by CAF Confederation Cup champions, with Egypt’s Pyramids FC the only CAF Champions League winners to lift the trophy during that period.
USM Alger, who previously won the Super Cup in 2023, added another continental honour to their history after defeating Zamalek on penalties to win last season’s To-talEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
USM Alger made a remarkable start, taking the lead after just four minutes following an incisive attacking move involving Khaldi.
The Algerian forward broke into the penalty area from the right, evaded a challenge and delivered a low ball across goal for Draoui to finish from close range.
The early breakthrough immediately placed Sundowns under pressure and forced the South Africans to chase the contest in front of their home supporters.
Cardoso’s side had already suffered a setback before kick-off when Portuguese mid-fielder Nuno Santos sustained an injury during the warm-up.
The Sundowns coach responded by bringing Cassius Mailula into the starting line-up, but his plans were disrupted again after just 15 minutes.
Striker Brayan León was forced off with an apparent groin injury, prompting the intro-duction of Rayners.
The substitute made an almost immediate impact when Sundowns were awarded a pen-alty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for handball.
Rayners stepped forward and converted in the 25th minute, sending goalkeeper Oussa-ma Benbot the wrong way to restore parity.
The equaliser gave Sundowns renewed confidence, and they came close to moving ahead when Thapelo Morena connected with Mailula’s delivery.
However, Benbot produced an important save to keep the scores level.
USM Alger punished that missed opportunity by restoring their advantage in the 37th minute.
Following a corner, an initial header struck the crossbar before Radouani reacted quick-est to the rebound and headed home.
The goal gave the Algerians a 2-1 lead at half-time and left Sundowns facing another difficult recovery.
The start of the second half was delayed by adverse weather conditions, but USM Alger resumed with the same attacking intent that had troubled Sundowns before the interval.
Khaldi, who had already created the opening goal, extended the visitors’ advantage in the 55th minute with the outstanding individual moment of the match.
Finding space on the edge of the penalty area, he cut inside and curled a superb shot be-yond Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner.
The third goal left the South African champions with a considerable task as they at-tempted to rescue the contest.
Teboho Mokoena tried his luck with an effort from distance, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner.
Tashreeq Matthews also attempted to threaten the visitors’ goal as Cardoso introduced Antonio van Wyk in an effort to strengthen his attacking options.
The South African goalkeeper was called into action again with approximately 15 minutes remaining, diving to turn Dramane Kamagaté’s low effort around the post.
Those interventions prevented a heavier defeat as the Algerians continued to exploit the spaces left by Sundowns.
The hosts thought they had found a way back into the contest during the closing stages when the ball ended up in the net following an own goal.
However, VAR ruled out the effort after determining that the ball had crossed the touch-line earlier in the attacking move.
That decision effectively ended Sundowns’ hopes of mounting a late comeback, allow-ing USM Alger to see out the remaining minutes and celebrate a memorable continental triumph.
The victory represents another major achievement for USM Alger, who have established themselves among the leading clubs in African football in recent seasons.
Their latest success follows their CAF Confederation Cup triumph against Zamalek, when they prevailed in a penalty shootout after a closely contested final.
The Algerian club have now won the CAF Super Cup twice, adding the 2026 title to their previous success in 2023.
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