USM Alger stunned hosts Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at a rain-soaked Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday to win the CAF Super Cup for the second time.

The Algerian side, who qualified as winners of the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2025-26 campaign, took the lead after only four minutes and never allowed the South African champions to settle, even after Sundowns had drawn level from the penalty spot.

Ahmed Khaldi was the architect of the opening goal. He worked his way down the right side of the attack and pulled the ball back for Zakaria Draoui, who finished from close range to give the visitors a lead their early pressure had earned.

Sundowns, who reached the match as winners of last season's CAF Champions League, found a way back into the game in the 25th minute. Iqraam Rayners converted a penalty to make it 1-1, and for a spell the home side looked as though they might take control of the final in front of their own supporters.

That momentum did not last. USM Alger restored their lead before half-time through captain Saadi Radouani, punishing Sundowns for failing to deal with the danger in their own penalty area, and the visitors went into the break back in front.

The decisive moment came ten minutes into the second half. Khaldi, who had created the first goal, cut inside from the right and curled a shot from outside the box beyond goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to make it 3-1. It was a finish of real quality, and it left Sundowns with too much to do.

The match had been interrupted by the weather, with the start of the second half delayed by around 30 minutes after a heavy downpour in Pretoria. The rain left the pitch sodden, but USM Alger adapted better once play resumed, and Khaldi's goal arrived soon after the restart.

Sundowns pushed for a way back into the contest in the closing stages, but the Algerian side held their shape and saw out the remaining minutes without conceding again. The 3-1 scoreline reflected a performance in which the visitors were sharper in both penalty areas.

The trophy is USM Alger's second CAF Super Cup, adding to the maiden success they achieved in 2023. That first triumph came against Egyptian giants Al Ahly, and this second title confirms the club's standing among the leading sides in African club football.

For Sundowns, the defeat is a further disappointment in continental competition. They won the CAF Champions League last season to earn their place in this fixture, but they were knocked out of this season's edition before the group stage, and they have now lost the Super Cup on home soil.

The Super Cup is the traditional curtain-raiser to the African club season, contested between the winners of the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Winning it away from home, in difficult conditions and against the reigning African champions, will make this success a memorable one for USM Alger and their supporters.