Beaten 3-1 by USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup at Loftus Versfeld, Mamelodi Sundowns saw their captain, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, express his disappointment and vow that this defeat will leave its mark.
Loftus Versfeld witnessed a painful evening for Mamelodi Sundowns. The CAF Champions League holders went down 3-1 to USM Alger, according to Opera News. A below-par performance that drew a reaction from goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams, back in the starting line-up after injury.
The return of Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena to the starting XI, after injuries, was not enough to prevent the defeat.
A bitter defeat for Sundowns
The match turned early for Mamelodi Sundowns. Zakaria Draoui opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute for USM Alger. Iqraam Rayners equalised from the penalty spot in the 25th minute, before Saadi Radouani restored the lead just before half-time. After the break, Ahmed Khaldi scored the third goal ten minutes into the second half, making it 3-1.
The Algerians held that advantage until the final whistle. For USM Alger, winners of the Confederation Cup, it is their second Super Cup title after 2023, according to Opera News.
The defeat is all the more bitter for Sundowns, who lost Nuno Santos to injury in the warm-up, then Brayan León, who went off injured during the match.
Williams calls for a response
Speaking in comments reported by Opera News, goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams did not hide his disappointment: “It’s hard. This match will hurt for a very long time. We have to reflect as a team to know where we are and what we were. We have to pick ourselves up. It’s going to be a long season. We have to be better collectively, draw strength from each other and keep growing,” he said.
Williams, goalkeeper and captain of both Sundowns and South Africa, is thus calling for collective soul-searching after the defeat. The CAF Super Cup pits the Champions League winners against the Confederation Cup winners, and Sundowns, who had the chance to claim another trophy, were unable to win it.
A break before the resumption
The South Africa captain stressed the need to “pick ourselves up” and “keep growing”. Sundowns will return to competitive action after the international break.
Opera News did not specify the severity of the injuries to Nuno Santos and Brayan León, who missed the match or went off during it.