USM Alger Beat Sundowns 3-1 to Win Second CAF Super Cup

USM Alger beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday to win the 2026 CAF Super Cup. A second title for the Algerians and another continental setback for the hosts.

For anyone who doesn't follow African club football, the Super Cup is simple: the Champions League winners play the Confederation Cup winners, once, at the start of the season. This year that meant Mamelodi Sundowns, African champions after beating AS FAR, against USM Alger, who had edged Zamalek on penalties.

USM Alger won 3-1. It was not a fluke.

Why it mattered

Sundowns wanted redemption. Their Champions League defence ended in the preliminary rounds against Angola's Wiliete SC, and this was the quickest way to answer it. They had won this trophy in 2017.

USM Alger beat Al Ahly 1-0 to win it in 2023. Another win would make them the first Algerian club to hold it twice. Confederation Cup winners have now taken four of the last five Super Cups.

How it played out

Four minutes in, Ahmed Khaldi reached the byline and cut it back for Zakaria Draoui to finish.

Sundowns levelled on 25 minutes through Iqraam Rayners, on early for the injured Brayan León, converting a penalty after a VAR review for handball.

Three minutes before the break Saâdi Radouani followed up a rebound off the crossbar and headed in. Ten minutes into the second half Khaldi cut inside and curled a left-footed shot past Ronwen Williams. That was the game.

Cardoso: "We made mistakes"

Miguel Cardoso did not hide from it. "We made mistakes that were punished with goals," he said. "USMA didn't have a huge number of chances, but the difference lies in its ability to make the most of what it created, unlike us." He said focus had to shift to the Carling Knockout Cup semi-final.

The dressing room

"This one will hurt for a very long time," said captain Ronwen Williams. "We've got to reflect as a team as to where we are and what we once were."

What it means

Sundowns took $250,000; USM Alger $500,000. For the visitors it is history: two Super Cups in three years.

Sundowns remain South Africa's best side, but domestic dominance and continental trophies are different things.