Rulani Mokwena secures first win with Algerian giants 

Rulani Mokwena has secured his first win in charge of Algerian champions MC Alger following a 1-0 victory against Olympique Akbou on Friday.

Mokwena, who had started the season with a goalless draw against USM Alger, saw his team move up to eighth on the table with the win on Friday which came courtesy of Reda Hailamia’s goal.

“It will be very difficult for teams to win here. I am very proud of the players, last season we lost this game. We showed good character, and congratulations to the team,” Mokwena said in his post-match press conference.

Mokwena will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when his team take on MC Oran, who beat Josef Zinnbauer’s JS Kabylie 1-0, as they look to move up the table and retain their title.

Mokwena expected to improve Champions League run  

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach saw Hailamia net in the eighth minute to lead his team to victory but while he is delighted with the win, he will be hoping that they triumph in their subsequent matches in style.

Mokwena is known to play an attractive brand of football but with just a few weeks with his team, he is yet to make them play the way he likes and supporters will be hoping to see ‘Rulani ball’ soon.

MC Alger, who have won the last two Algerian top flight titles, are looking to make it three in a row but are also counting on Mokwena to lead them to CAF Champions League glory after exiting last season’s competition at the quarter-final.