USM Alger secured their second CAF Super Cup title with a 3-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.
The Algerian club, holders of the CAF Confederation Cup, earned the US$500,000 winners’ prize after producing a decisive performance against the South African champions.
Ahmed Khaldi played a central role in the win, creating USM Alger’s opening goal before scoring himself after half-time.
The visitors took the lead inside four minutes. Khaldi advanced into the penalty area from the right and sent the ball across the goal, allowing Zakaria Draoui to tap it in.
Sundowns were forced to make two early changes. Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos was replaced by Cassius Mailula before kick-off after suffering an injury during the warm-up, while striker Brayan Leon was withdrawn for Iqraam Rayners in the 15th minute.
Rayners restored parity in the 25th minute from the penalty spot. The referee awarded the kick following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for handball, and Rayners sent USM Alger goalkeeper Oussama Benbot the wrong way.
Benbot then kept out Thapelo Morena’s effort after the Sundowns player had been found by a cross from Mailula.
USM Alger regained the advantage eight minutes before half-time. A header from a corner struck the crossbar, but Saadi Radouani reacted first to nod in the rebound and make it 2-1.
There was a delay because of the weather before the second half began, but it was USM Alger who resumed with greater threat.
Khaldi added the third in the 55th minute, cutting inside from the edge of the penalty area before curling the ball beyond Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and into the far corner.
Williams prevented the deficit from becoming greater by parrying further attempts from Khaldi and Dramane Kamagate.
Sundowns appeared to have reduced the gap late on when an own goal went in at the other end, but VAR ruled it out after determining that the ball had gone out of play during the build-up.
USM Alger reached the Super Cup after beating Egypt’s Zamalek on penalties in the CAF Confederation Cup final.
The victory adds the 2026 title to the club’s previous triumph in 2023. It also means CAF Confederation Cup winners have claimed four of the past five CAF Super Cups, with Egypt’s Pyramids FC the only Champions League holder to win during that period.
