Sundowns eye showdown with former boss

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to reunite with former head coach Rulani Mokwena as Masandawana travel to the Ali la Pointe Stadium in Douéra, Algeria, to face MC Alger in the CAF Champions League on Friday.

Kickoff is at 9pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

MC Alger’s CAF Champions League group stage opener did not go to plan, with Mokwena’s side losing 2-1 to Al-Hilal Omdurman at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali last Friday.

The club sits third in group C with zero points and a goal difference of minus one.

In domestic competition, MC Alger are unbeaten in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 having registered seven wins and one draw in the 2025/26 campaign.

Along with their unbeaten start, MC Alger have conceded only three goals in the league this season.

Mamelodi Sundowns began their group stage campaign with a 3-1 victory over Saint-Éloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

The club’s Portuguese stars combined well as Nuno Santos bagged two goals and Miguel Reisinho provided two assists.

The Brazilians sit in first place in group C, narrowly edging Al-Hilal Omdurman on goal difference.

Domestically, the Brazilians are atop the Betway Premiership standings, having claimed four wins and one loss in their last five league games.

The reigning league champions are level with Orlando Pirates on 25 points but are ahead on goal difference.

They could be bumped from top spot as Pirates have a game in hand.

WHAT WAS SAID

MC Alger head coach Rulani Mokwena, who helped Sundowns win four consecutive league titles in his tenure, stated the upcoming clash presented a great opportunity for his side.

“Football is football and there’s a reason why we have to play Sundowns and it’s from a football context, a great opportunity for the club. It’s a great opportunity for the players to test themselves against a team that was at the [FIFA] Club World Cup, a team that was in the final of the Champions League and that is how I look at it,” said Mokwena, speaking on the African Five-a-Side Podcast podcast.

The former Masandawana manager emphasised that the match-up has little to do with him and his history with the South African Champions.

“I’m the least important person at a football club. The coach is the least important person at a football club. Some coaches believe they are more important but my opinion is that I’m the least important, the game belongs to the players.”

Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso stated that he and his side are approaching the fixture as usual, with little concern for the opposition bench.

“Next match, a Champions League match. We will analyse the team behaviour, prepare ourselves as we go there, make the best and hope the best is enough to win three points. Normal,” he said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

MC Alger - Soufiane Bayazid has bagged three goals in nine appearances in all competitions this season. The 29-year-old striker also netted two goals in four games at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August. The Algerian will be looking to add to his tally under the lights on Friday night.

Mamelodi Sundowns - Nuno Santos has emerged as a dangerous facilitator and scorer since joining the Brazilians at the start of the season.

The 26-year-old has registered three goals and two assists in three CAF Champions League games so far (including qualifying) and could prove to be the point of difference in the upcoming clash.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Mamelodi Sundowns wins: 1

MC Alger wins: 0

Draws: 0