Mamelodi Sundowns may have missed out on the opportunity to defend their CAF Champions League title, but they can still pick up continental silverware in Sunday's CAF Super Cup against CAF Confederation Cup holders USM Alger in Pretoria.
Sundowns were dumped out of the Champions League in the second preliminary round on away goals by Angolan Girabola leaders Wiliete. USM Alger have been placed in Group D of the Confederation Cup with AS Real Bamako, Black Bulls and CS Sfaxien.
Domestically, Sundowns are off to the stronger start of the two sides this season. They top the South African Premiership, although defending champions Orlando Pirates are one point behind with a game in hand.
Sundowns beat Pirates to win the MTN8 and are in the semi-finals of another cup, the Carling Knockout.
USM are fifth in Algeria's Ligue 1, level on points with fourth-placed MB Rouissat with a game in hand.
Key details
Date: Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. CAT (2 p.m. CET, 1 p.m. GMT)
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
How to watch: The match is scheduled to air on SuperSport's DSTV channel 208. ESPN provides coverage of African football through our digital platforms.
Team news
Sundowns have carefully managed star midfielder Teboho Mokoena and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams as they struggle with recurring injury issues, while right-back Khuliso Mudau has yet to return to action from a long-term injury.
Upfront, Miguel Cardoso has a more enviable problem as he chooses between Colombian striker Brayan Leon - who often excels in CAF competitions - and Iqraam Rayners, who scored the winner in their last game, a 1-0 Carling Knockout quarter-final win over Golden Arrows on Tuesday.
Expected lineups
Mamelodi Sundowns
GK Ricardo Goss
LB Fawaaz Basadien | CB Malibongwe Khoza | CB Mothobi Mvala | RB Thabang Matuludi
CM Nuno Santos | CM Bathusi Aubaas | CM Marcelo Allende
LW Siyanda Ndlovu | ST Brayan Leon | RW Antonio van Wyk
USM Alger
GK Oussama Benbout
LWB Haithem Loucif | CB Saâdi Radouani | CB Che Malone | CB Achref Abada | RWB Rayane Abdelmadjid Mahrouz
CM Zakaria Draoui | CM Glody Likonza | CM Aimé Tendeng
ST Mohamed El Amine Ramdaoui | ST Dramane Kamagaté
Stats
Mamelodi Sundowns have lost only one of their last 21 games in all competitions.
These two teams have faced each other twice before, with Sundowns winning both clashes during the 2019-20 CAF Champions League.