Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela has delivered what sounds like an honest reality check following the Brazilians’ CAF Cup defeat by USM Alger on Sunday.
Reigning African champions Masandawana suffered a 3-1 defeat at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where they went down to CAF Confederation Cup holders USM Alger. The setback completed a difficult two weeks for the Tshwane giants, who had also exited from the CAF Champions League in the second preliminary round.
Making it a more difficult period is that Sundowns have suffered these setbacks in their own backyard. That leaves the Brazilians hard-pressed to win the remaining trophies they are to play for this season.
They now have the Betway Premiership to reclaim after surrendering it to Orlando Pirates last season after winning it eight consecutive times. There is also the Nedbank Cup to play for, and they are in the Carling Knockout semi-finals.
DID THE USM ALGER DEFEAT SERVE AS A BRUTAL REMINDER FOR MAMELODI SUNDOWNS? STEVE KOMPHELA SPEAKS
For a team that enjoyed two highs in 2026 by lifting the Champions League and MTN8, Masandawana have fallen to miss out on two continental competitions. Komphela admits Sunday’s setback is a rude awakening, reminding them that they are not invincible.
“It’s funny because as soon as the match came to an end, one of the players from USMA came through and said something very strange. He said, ‘You guys are a big team, you will recover,’” Komphela told the media at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.
“To me, that was profound. Sometimes in life we need reminders of who we are, and this is the one. Obviously, at Sundowns you would wish to win every trophy, and nobody has a God-given birthright to.
“We wanted to win it. Unfortunately, it didn’t fall our way, and you don’t want to start throwing forward and then get paralysed by the fact that you start looking at things that are coming.
“But where we are at, we’re hurting, and also for our supporters as well. The fact that we are Champions League winners, when you play folks who are also winners but in the Confederation [Cup], logic or common sense, or expectation would be that the Champions League winner should win.
“But sometimes football is not like that. We regret the result, we wanted it different. Unfortunately, it didn’t come our way and congratulations to the opponent.”
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