Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club head coach Rulani Mokwena has been unveiled as the new head coach of Algerian Ligue 1 champions Mouloudia Club d’Alger.
The 38-year-old coach returns to the coaching hot seat with the Algerian giants, who secured both the league title and the Super Cup last season. He succeeds Tunisian coach Khaled Ben Yahia, whose short-term contract expired.
Mokwena’s previous season was spent at Wydad Athletic Club following his departure from Sundowns. However, he parted ways with the Moroccan club at the end of the Botola Pro season after a tumultuous season.
The Casablanca giants finished third and return to CAF inter-club football albeit in the CAF Confederation Cup. The previous season they finished sixth, missing out of CAF football for the first time in as many years.
Despite the difficult season in Morocco, Mokwena remained a sought-after man, with Siwelele FC, Pyramids, Zamalek SC, Qatari side Al Shahaniya, and Saudi Arabian second-tier team Al Jandal SC all reportedly keen on his services in recent weeks.
Ultimately, the MC Alger project proved most appealing to the South African tactician.
RULANI MOKWENA BEATS MANQOBA MNGQITHI TO LAND MC ALGER JOB
“Ruulani Mokwena, new coach for the dean of Algerian clubs,” said the club in a statement on Monday. “Mokwena, welcome to Mouloudia.”
MC Alger will play in the CAF Champions League this upcoming season, a space Mokwena relishes having made several forays with Sundowns previously.
The Algiers-based club reached the quarter-finals last season and were eliminated by Orlando Pirates. They will expect Mokwena to take them beyond that stage.
Among some of the names that were linked to the job was his former colleague at Sundowns, Manqoba Mngqithi.
Mngqithi, who is currently at Golden Arrows, was approached for the job. After a decade-long league drought, the club has now won the league in two consecutive seasons. In Algeria, Mokwena rekindles his rivalry with Sead Ramovic, who is at Khanyisa Mayo’s CR Belouizdad. Ramovic guided Belouizdad to a third-place finish.
Former Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer is with JS Kabyile, who finished second in the 2024/25 campaign.
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