MC Alger news

The South African tactician continues to make waves in North Africa, guiding MC Alger with a calm authority and a growing sense of purpose. Mokwena’s unbeaten run has injected belief into the squad and heightened expectations among supporters as the club pushes deeper into the Algerian Cup and edges closer to silverware.

The two tacticians have coached in the Premier Soccer League before, where they always created unwarranted drama during matches before leaving for North Africa. The duo faced each other for the first time in the Algerian top tier on Monday night, hoping to get a positive result in their bid to realise the set objectives for their respective clubs.

The South African tactician explains why MC Alger feels disappointed after managing to get a point against Masandawana during their second group game at Ali La Pointe Stadium. The 38-year-old coach has explained which side between MC Alger and his former team deserved the win on Friday. The game gave Mokwena's team their first group point this season after an initial loss to Al Hilal.

While Sundowns dropped points for the first time at the group stage, MC Alger gained a point after an initial loss to Al Hilal. This was a crucial match for both Downs and Mokwena, as they met for the first time since parting ways over one year ago. Masandawana remain at the top of the table, but that could change depending on the result of the other group games.

The defending Premier Soccer League champions continued their continental journey on Friday, 28 November, travelling to Stade Ali Ammar Dit Ali La Ponite with the aim of extending their winning start in the CAF Champions League. The Brazilians had opened their group stage campaign in style last weekend, securing a 3-1 victory over Saint Eloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

After a convincing win at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Masandawana are in North Africa looking for a second group win that will help them consolidate their position at the top of the table. This is not an ordinary game for Downs; it is an emotional one, given that they will face their former coach, Rhulani Mokwena. For Mokwena, this is an even more important game because he will need to win after losing their group opening match.

The 38-year-old is set for an emotional CAF Inter-Club outing on Friday against Masandawana, aware that a win will be vital in his bid to win the elusive trophy. However, the South African tactician will have to face the Premier Soccer League outfits without several key players who have been delivering for the club.

Following their victory in the initial Group D CAF Champions League assignment against the Democratic Republic of Congo's Saint Eloi Lupopo, Masandawana want to make it two wins in a row away to Algeria against the People's Club on Friday. The Algerian outfit are aiming at bouncing back from their opening defeat in the pool to avoid possible elimination.

The defending Premier Soccer League champions are away against the People's Club, hoping to get another Group D win to boost their chances of making the quarter-final phase of the CAF Champions League. However, it will not be an easy outing, because the Algerian Ligue 1 outfit lost their initial fixture against Al Hilal and will be aiming to make amends.

The 38-year-old coach gained valuable experience after being at the helm of both the Buccaneers and Masandawana in high-pressure environments. He now finds himself in another demanding role at MC Alger, where expectations remain just as high and intense. This comes after a season at Wydad Casablanca, where he further sharpened his tactical prowess.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was full of praise for the current state of South Africa’s displays on the bigger stages. Bafana Bafana recently reaped the rewards of their hard work by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will next month take the stage at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Amajimbos bowed out of the FIFA U-17 World Cup earlier this month, and the senior women’s national team is busy preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON].

The Tshwane giants travel to Algeria, where they will battle it out at the Ali La Pointe Stadium on Friday evening against their former coach Rhulani Mokwena, whose side is wounded after a disappointing start to the CAF Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns supporters remain divided — some still yearning for Mokwena’s return due to dissatisfaction with current coach Miguel Cardoso, while others hope this clash will prove that the former Orlando Pirates mentor was not necessarily the ideal candidate either. However, once the whistle blows, all off-field debates fall aside, as both teams will be equally tested in their pursuit of crucial group-stage points.

Ever since he went to North Africa, starting with a stint at Wydad Casablanca and now in Algeria, the youthful coach has never met his former employers, Masandawana. The only time he came up against the Brazilians was when he was at Orlando Pirates as an assistant after leaving the Tshwane giants. Now a battle looms between Rhulani Mokwena and Mamelodi Sundowns.