Mamelodi Sundowns draw MC Alger in CAF Champions League as Rulani Mokwena awaits emotional reunion

The CAF Champions League 2025 group stage draw has delivered a storyline straight out of a football script. South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will face MC Alger, now managed by their former coach Rulani Mokwena, setting up an emotional reunion just months after his surprise dismissal.

Monday’s draw placed the two sides in Group C, alongside Al Hilal of Sudan and St Eloi Lupopo from the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s a challenging lineup featuring regional rivals, familiar faces, and continental heavyweights.

For Mokwena, this matchup is more than just another fixture — it’s personal. The South African tactician guided Sundowns to the 2024 DStv Premiership title and an almost unbeaten season before parting ways with the club in controversial circumstances. His swift return to the Champions League, now leading Algeria’s MC Alger, ensures his first continental test will come against the very club that shaped his rise.

Group C: Reunion, Rivalries, and Rising Threats

Group C promises to be one of the most closely contested in this year’s competition.

• Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa): The reigning PSL champions have become a continental powerhouse under Mokwena’s former leadership. With a deep squad and Champions League pedigree, Sundowns are clear favourites — but the emotional subplot of facing their ex-coach could complicate matters.
• MC Alger (Algeria): Now led by Mokwena, the North African giants will relish the chance to test themselves against Sundowns’ fluid playing style. Mokwena’s intimate knowledge of his former players could give MC Alger a tactical edge.
• Al Hilal (Sudan): A familiar foe, Al Hilal have been grouped with Sundowns four times in the past six editions of the tournament. Owing to ongoing conflict in Sudan, the club will play its “home” matches in Rwanda, where they’ve also joined the local league for the season.
• St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo): The Congolese side, who stunned Orlando Pirates in the qualifying round, are the group’s dark horse. They secured their first-ever group stage appearance after defeating the Buccaneers on penalties.

The group stage kicks off on the weekend of November 21–22 and will run through mid-February, with the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

Mokwena’s return adds emotional weight

For Rulani Mokwena, the clash against Sundowns is likely to be a defining chapter in his young coaching career. After leading the Pretoria-based club to domestic and continental success, his departure shocked many in South African football.

Now, just months later, he’s tasked with leading MC Alger’s Champions League campaign, where his tactical intelligence and familiarity with Sundowns’ system could prove decisive.

In a recent interview after joining MC Alger, Mokwena hinted that he was motivated by “unfinished business” in African football — and facing Sundowns so soon offers the perfect stage to prove a point.

Elsewhere in the CAF Champions League Draw

The draw produced several blockbuster groupings across the tournament:

• Group A: Pyramids (Egypt), Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Power Dynamos (Zambia), Rivers United (Nigeria).
  • A repeat of the African Super Cup clash, where Pyramids defeated Berkane 1–0 last month.
• Group B: Al Ahly (Egypt), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), Young Africans (Tanzania).
  • Record champions Al Ahly will chase a 12th continental title.
• Group D: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola), Simba (Tanzania), Stade Malien (Mali).
  • Simba’s squad includes ex-Sundowns players Rushine de Reuck and Neo Maema, adding another South African connection.

CAF Confederation Cup: Chiefs draw Zamalek, Stellenbosch face Belouizdad

South African clubs also drew tough assignments in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

Kaizer Chiefs were handed a tricky Group D, alongside Egyptian giants Zamalek, Al Masry, and Zesco United. The matchup against Zamalek will be the first between the two sides since 1993, when Chiefs were eliminated on away goals in the old African Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch FC, semi-finalists last season, will feature in Group C with Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria), AS Otoho (Congo), and Singida Black Stars (Tanzania).

Both South African clubs will begin their group campaigns on November 23, with the stage running through mid-February 2026.

Full CAF Champions League Draw

Group A: Power Dynamos (Zambia), Pyramids (Egypt), Renaissance Berkane (Morocco), Rivers United (Nigeria)
Group B: Al Ahly (Egypt), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Royal Armed Forces (Morocco), Young Africans (Tanzania)
Group C: Al Hilal (Sudan), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), MC Alger (Algeria), St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Group D: Esperance (Tunisia), Petro Atletico (Angola), Simba (Tanzania), Stade Malien (Mali)

Full CAF Confederation Cup Draw

Group A: USM Alger (Algeria), Djoliba (Mali), Olympique Safi (Morocco), San Pedro (Ivory Coast)
Group B: Azam (Tanzania), Maniema Union (DR Congo), Nairobi United (Kenya), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Group C: Chabab Belouizdad (Algeria), AS Otoho (Congo), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), Stellenbosch (South Africa)
Group D: Al Masry (Egypt), Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa), Zamalek (Egypt), Zesco United (Zambia)