Starting in goal for Mamelodi Sundowns, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saw his side go down 3-1 to USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The Algerian club claim their second title, after the one in 2023.
At Loftus Versfeld on 8 November, Mamelodi Sundowns let the CAF Super Cup slip, beaten 3-1 by USM Alger, according to RTL Today / AFP. A surprise for the South Africans. Ronwen Williams, starting in goal, conceded three Algerian goals.
The evening had nevertheless begun in torrential rain, which delayed the start of the second half by thirty minutes. The Pretoria club, crowned in 2017, had to bow to USMA, crowned in 2023.
Khaldi, provider then scorer
The script was written from the very start of the match. In the 4th minute, striker Ahmed Khaldi crossed for Zakaria Draoui, who pushed the ball home: USMA opened the scoring. Khaldi then grabbed a remarkable goal of his own in the 55th minute, with a curling strike that flew past Williams’s goal, RTL Today / AFP reports.
In between, Iqraam Rayners had equalised in the 25th minute from the penalty spot, after a handball by Achref Abada. But captain Saadi Redouani restored USMA’s lead in the 36th minute, heading in a ball that had come back off the bar. Against that pace, Miguel Cardoso’s men, the Sundowns coach’s side, could not find a way back.
A second crown for USMA
Alongside Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena and Thapelo Morena were in the South African starting XI, according to Foot-Africa. Opposite them, the side of Mamadou Lamine Ndiaye, the USM Alger coach, held their advantage until the final whistle and pocket 500,000 dollars (450,000 euros).
Above all, USMA become the first Algerian club to win the Super Cup twice, after their 2023 title, according to RTL Today / AFP. Sundowns, for their part, had won the competition in 2017.
What comes next
The South Africans must return to domestic competition after the international break. USMA, for their part, will begin the defence of their Confederation Cup title by hosting a Malian club.