Mamelodi Sundowns vs MC Alger: Preview, team news, possible lineups, time and where to watch

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso’s future could be decided on Saturday as his side has a tricky home match with Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger in the CAF Champions League.

Sundowns are in a tight spot heading into their final Champions League game as they must win to seal a place in the quarter-final or they will be knocked out of the group stage for the first time since 2018.

It is an unfamiliar place to be in for the Brazilians who have always headed into the final match assured of a place in the last eight or requiring at least a draw.

For a team that reached the final of the competition last season, exiting at the group stage could be catastrophic for Cardoso who could lose his job after what has been an inconsistent run of form in league and Champions League.

Form guide

The two teams come into the match with contrasting forms with Sundowns winning five of their last 10 games, four draws and one defeat. Two of the draws and the defeat have come from their last five matches, all in the Champions League, and that is how they find themselves in a tight corner.

Cardoso’s team have just one win in the Champions League from five games, and a recent 2-2 draw followed by a 2-1 loss both to Al Hilal as well as last week’s 1-1 draw with St Eloi Lupopo left them with six points heading into the final match.

Meanwhile, MC Alger have one defeat in their last 10, a period in which they have drawn two and won seven. In the Champions League, they have two wins and a draw, both victories coming from their last two games, 2-0 against St Lupopo and 2-1 over Al-Hilal at home.

Their one draw was against Sundowns last November.

Head-to-head

This is the second meeting between the two sides after playing out a goalless draw in Algiers in November 2025 when Mokwena’s team should have won had they not wasted their chances.

Champions League pedigree

Sundowns have better experience in the competition as they have won the title once, in 2016, and have also reached two finals, last season and in 2001. Since winning it 10 years ago, Sundowns have failed to get past the group stage only once in 2018, making the quarter-final four times, the semis thrice and final once.

Meanwhile, MC Alger are also champions, but their only title came back in 1976, and since then, the best has been quarter-final on four occasions. Two of them were in the last two seasons, and there is pressure on Mokwena to achieve the same this campaign.

‘Spygate’ allegations add to the spice

Heading into the match, talk of MC Alger benefiting from leaked tactical information from Sundowns has dominated headlines.

Sundowns have since suspended analyst Mario Masha, who is accused of leaking team secrets to Mokwena, something the MC Alger coach has denied.

“The conversations referenced were professional football discussions, some personal, relating to his UEFA Licenses, which he asked me to help him share through different methodologies, previous work done together at Mamelodi Sundowns,” Mokwena said on Friday.

“And different tactical details that include European examples such as those from Manchester City. At no point were current Sundowns’ tactical plans or confidential material shared with me.”

Sundowns vs MC Alger key strengths

Sundowns’ main strength is their attack as they have failed to score only thrice in the whole of this season. In the Champions League, they were only kept at bay by MC Alger but managed to find the net even in the game they lost.

Meanwhile, MC Alger pride themselves for a very tight defence that has conceded two goals or more only twice this season. They also have seven clean sheets in their last 10 games.

Team news

Monnapule Saleng and Keanu Cupido are nursing injuries and will not be involved for Sundowns while long-term absentee Reda Halaimia is the only one not fit for MC Alger.

Time and where to watch

The match will be staged at Loftus Versfeld from 15:00 and will be live on both SuperSport TV and SABC.

Back home for our final #TotalEnergiesCAFCL group stage clash! 💪

⚽ Mamelodi Sundowns vs MC Alger
🏆 CAF Champions League
📆 14 February
⏰ 15H00
🏟 Loftus Versfeld
📺 SS 209 & SABC
🎟️ Grab your tickets on OpenTickets, and you could drive home with a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT!… pic.twitter.com/8EmIb8TXwc

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 12, 2026

Predicted lineups

Sundowns possible XI: Williams; Modiba, Mudau, Kekana, Ndamane; Mokoena, Adams, Allende;

 Matthews, Sales, Leon

MC Alger possible XI: Guendouz, Gassi, Menezla, Abdellaoui, Khelif, Benhaoua, Benkhemassa, Zougrana, Anatouf, Boukholda, Ferhat