Algerian giants USM Alger and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will go head-to-head in Sunday’s TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup final in search of continental dominance at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.
Both teams are looking to produce another monumental continental upset to bag their second CAF glory following their triumph in the CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League.
USM Alger earned their place in today’s Super Cup after an extraordinary run in the 2025-26 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The Algerian giants started their campaign from the 2nd Preliminary Round beating Ivoirian side AF Amadou Dialo 3-1 on aggregate to reach the group stage, where they finished on top of Group A that had Morocco’s Olympic Safi, Mali’s Djoliba and Cote d’Ivoire’s FC San Pedro.
USMA made perfect use of the away-goals rule, beating DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union (2-2 on aggregate) in the quarterfinals, then Olympic Safi once again (1-1 on aggregate) in the semifinals to book their spot in the final with Egyptian titans Zamalek.
The drama packed final saw USM Alger winning the first leg 1-0 in Algiers with a last gasp winner. Zamalek neutralized the aggregate score early in the return leg at Cairo International Stadium but could not find a winner to set the game to be decided by a tense penalty shootout.
Displaying nerves of steel in front of a packed stadium, USM Alger triumphed 8-7 on penalties to win their second CAF Confederation Cup crown and book their ticket to the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup.
On the other hand, Mamelodi Sundowns earned their place in today’s final through a stellar championship run in the 2025-26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.
The South African side also started their campaign from the 2nd Preliminary Round, delivering an early warning to the rest of the continent by dismantling Nigerian champion Remo Stars 7-1 on aggregate to secure their group stage spot.
Sundowns progressed from Group C alongside Sudan’s Al Hilal, finishing ahead of Algerian side MC Alger, and DR Congo’s Saint-Eloi Lupopo, and built on a commanding 3-0 home advantage over Mali’s Stade Malien in the quarterfinals.
Despite facing an early scare in Bamako by trailing 2-0 at halftime, Sundowns held firm to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
The semifinals saw the South African side produce clinical displays against Esperance de Tunis, recording 1-0 victories both away in Tunis and back home in Pretoria to march into the final.
The grand finale pitted Mamelodi Sundowns against Moroccan powerhouses AS FAR. Aubrey Modiba scored the only goal in a tense 1-0 first leg win in Pretoria, before a decisive first-half injury-time strike from Teboho Mokoena ensured the return leg to end in a 1-1 draw that earned ‘The Brazilians’ their second CAF Champions League crown, and to book their ticket to the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup.
USM Alger’s history in CAF Super Cup
USM Alger appears in the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup for the second time, boasting a perfect record in this competition.
Their previous appearance dates to 2023 following their maiden CAF Confederation Cup triumph, when they shocked then CAF Champions League winners and historic champions Al Ahly beating them 1-0 in the match that was held in Taif, Saudi Arabia.
USM journey to today’s 2026 CAF Super Cup
USM Alger earned their place in today’s final through an extraordinary run in the 2025-26 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
USMA made perfect use of the away-goals rule, beating DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union (2-2 on aggregate) in the quarterfinals, then Olympic Safi once again (1-1 on aggregate) in the semifinals to book their spot in the final with Egyptian titans Zamalek.
The drama packed final saw USM Alger winning the first leg 1-0 in Algiers with a last gasp winner. Zamalek neutralized the aggregate score early in the return leg at Cairo International Stadium but couldn’t find a winner to set the game to be decided by a tense penalty shootout.
Displaying nerves of steel in front of a packed stadium, USM Alger triumphed 8-7 on penalties to win their second CAF Confederation Cup crown and book their ticket to the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup.
Coached by Lamine N’Diaye, the veteran Senegalese manager took charge of USMA in February 2026.
N’Diaye’s guided USMA to a historic double last season, winning both the Algerian Cup and the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
He signed a new two-year contract extension last June to remain at the helm of the Algiers based club. N’Diaye also guided DR Congo’s TP Mazembe to the CAF Champions League title in 2010, two CAF Super Cup titles (2010, 2011) and to the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup final.
Sundowns’ history in CAF Super Cup
Mamelodi Sundowns appeared in the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup for the second time, boasting a perfect record in the competition.
Sundowns’ previous appearance dates to 2017 following their maiden Champions League triumph, where a lone goal was enough to defeat TP Mazembe. Now playing in front of their home fans at Loftus Versfeld, the South Africa side aim to preserve that flawless record.
Sundowns enter the match deep into their domestic season. After claiming the MTN8 crown last month, they top the South African Premiership standings after 10 matches, with 26 points, one more than rivals Orlando Pirates who have a game in hand.