MC Alger’s visit to Pretoria to face Mamelodi Sundowns will be a cagey affair. The two teams are separated by just a point heading into the final round of matches in the group stage.
Fans of the Algerian giants on Monday had a South American-esque send-off for their team before they travelled to South Africa.
Fans were spotted with their drums and flares, dancing and jumping and motivating the team in a grand style for the showdown in Pretoria. They knew the task ahead, and they needed to motivate their playing body.
Sundowns form
Mamelodi Sundowns have failed to hit the ground running after failing to win any of their last four games in Group C. The 2-1 defeat in Rwanda to leaders Al-Hilal Omdurmna and the 1-1 draw in D.R. Congo against St Eloi Lupopo means the Brazillians must at all costs beat the high-flying Algerians coached by Rulani Mowena on Saturday afternoon.
Rulani Mokwena won multiple league titles and the maiden edition of the CAF Super League for Sundowns and is revered in Pretoria. The young South African tactician coached Wydad Casablanca in Morocco last season after leaving Sundowns and was appointed the head coach of Algerian giants MC Alger after the season ended in Morocco. He now has the opportunity to end Sundowns’ participation in the knockout stage of the competition since 2018.
Why have Sundowns suspended their performance coach?
The South Africans have suspended their Performance coach of ten years after accusing him of leaking tactical information to his friend, Rulani Mokwena, who is the current head coach of MC Alger.
Mario Marshall was part of the coaching staff that won the club’s one and only CAF Champions League title in 2016.
It is very surprising to see someone who has worked with Pitso Mosimane, Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve Komphela, Rulani Mokwena and currently with Miquel Cardoso being accused of leaking information to an opposition manager.
After Sundowns’ 1-1 draw on matchday 5 in Lubumbashi against St Eloi Lupopo, Miguel Cardoso, head coach of the Brazilians, made a shocking revelation, which, up to now, no one knows what he was talking about. “I hope MC Alger does not guess and know how we are going to play, and I hope that is controlled so we can make a fair game from our side,” said the Portuguese.
The permutations
Group C Table
Al-Hilal Omdurman (8 points)
MC Alger (7 points)
Mamelodi Sundowns (6 points)
MC Alger St Eloi Lupopo (5 points)
All four teams in the group have a mathematical chance of progressing to the quarter-finals
Al Hilal needs a draw to qualify for the quarter finals against St Eloi Lupopo. The Congolese side’s chances are slim because they are inferior to all the group members in terms of head-to-head results, but a huge win can help them progress at the expense of the Sudanese side.
Sundowns must simply beat MC Alger to avoid any mathematics. MC Alger, on the other hand, needs just a draw to progress.
The Algerians looked to be out of the competition completely after matchday three, when they won only one point. They have won their last two games and are a draw away from making it to the quarter finals. The situations of both teams make the game a crucial one.
Group C Fixtures
Al-Hilal Omdurman v St Eloi Lupopo
Sundowns v MC Alger
