Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is set for a return to Tshwane.
As confirmed on Monday, MC Alger and Kabo Yellow will do battle in Group C for a place in the quarterfinals.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS TO FACE RULANI MOKWENA’S MC ALGER IN THE CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
After bowing out of the quarterfinals against Orlando Pirates last season, Alger are facing a rather formidable group this term, and coach Mokwena has been the first to admit.
“We know what we are capable of, but we also understand football heritage that Al Hilal have more heritage in the Champions League than us, that Mamelodi Sundowns have more heritage than us in the group, but we also understand that we have all the conditions to make a very good run in the Champions League,” Mokwena told Algerian media.
“We have an incredible stadium with an incredible fan base; we have incredible facility and incredible staff. We have a hard-working and an ambitious group that has a lot of experience from last season Champions League,” the former Sundowns mentor added.
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Over the past 15 years, USM Alger have had four runs in the CAF Champions League, but the test has asked too much. Their 2010/11 campaign ended in the group stage after being thrown into a group with Al Ahly, Esperance, and Wydad Casablanca.
History repeated itself in 2017/18, when they once again fell short, this time in a group featuring Difaâ El Jadida, ES Sétif, and TP Mazembe.
However, they made it to the quarterfinals in 2020/21 and last term, falling to Wydad and Pirates, respectively.
Alger, known as, El Mouloudia, will host Sundowns on the weekend of 38-30 November, before Rulani returns to the Loftus Versfeld on the weekend of 23-25 January.
In the meantime, Mokwena’s side are enjoying a fine start in the Algeria Ligue 1, with 11 games unbeaten and are top with two points and three games in hand.