Mamelodi Sundowns will face USM Alger in the CAF Super Cup final this Sunday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane. The match, which kicks off at 3pm local time, offers the winner a prize of $500,000, approximately R8 million. The team comes into the match leading the Premier Soccer League with eight wins and two draws from their ten games, a record that has yielded 26 points.
Coach Miguel Cardoso confirmed his squad is dealing with significant injury concerns ahead of the continental showpiece. "We had a big setback with Teboho, as understood," Cardoso said, referring to midfielder Teboho Mokoena. "He did not come in close to being in good condition from the national team." Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is also a major doubt, with Cardoso stressing the importance of managing player recovery and admitting the team's <a href="/injuries">injury list</a> is a serious challenge.
Despite these concerns, Sundowns enter the fixture in formidable domestic form. The team sits top of the Premier Soccer League <a href="/standings">standings</a> with 26 points from 10 matches, holding a one-point lead over Orlando Pirates. Their recent results, including a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows last Tuesday, show a team on a three-game winning streak and unbeaten in their last five outings, a run of three wins and two draws. This sequence includes a 4-1 victory over Durban City on 31 October and a 1-0 win against Marumo Gallants on 27 October. Their attacking efficiency is notable, with the team scoring an average of a goal every 33 minutes of play in the league this season, having netted 27 times while conceding only nine.
Victory on Sunday would add another major trophy to Sundowns' cabinet and bring significant financial reward. The total prize fund for the 2026 Super Cup has risen to $750,000, a jump of over 130% from 2022. The runner-up will receive $250,000. USM Alger, who won the 2023 edition by beating Al Ahly, are the reigning CAF Confederation Cup champions and arrived in South Africa on Tuesday to prepare.
The Brazilians have a perfect record against the Algerian side in CAF competition. They met twice in the 2019/20 CAF Champions League group stage, with Sundowns winning 1-0 in Algiers and 2-1 at home. This historical edge, combined with their status as reigning African champions after defeating Morocco's AS FAR in last season's Champions League final, boosts confidence. The team's attack has been potent, scoring 27 goals in the league this season, with Iqraam Rayners leading the way with four goals in seven appearances. Rayners scored the only goal in the recent win over Golden Arrows.
Following the Super Cup, the club's next domestic assignment is an away <a href="/fixtures">fixture</a> to face ninth-placed Kruger United on 28 November. Before that, all attention is fixed on securing the Super Cup at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
The report in full is at sundayworld.co.za
