Confederation Cup clubs' revolution continues.. Has the Champions League winner lost its prestige in African Super Cup clashes?

08.11.26 FT CAF Super Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns FC

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USM Alger

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The CAF Confederation Cup champions have won four of the last five CAF Super Cup editions, raising an intriguing question about the changing balance of power in African club football.

Algerian giants USM Alger reinforced that trend on Sunday 8 November 2026 defeating CAF Champions League holders Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

Zakaria Draoui, Saadi Radouani and Ahmed Khaldi scored for the visitors, while Iqraam Rayners converted a penalty for the South African champions.

The result delivered USM Alger their second Super Cup title after their 2023 success against Al Ahly.

More significantly, it meant that Confederation Cup winners have claimed 80% of the last five Super Cup trophies, despite facing the champions of Africa's supposedly stronger club competition.

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CAF Super Cup: Four Confederation Cup triumphs in five editions

A look at the competition's historical results, previously documented by Foot Africa, reveals the extent of the recent shift.

The sequence began in 2022 when Morocco's RS Berkane defeated Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca 2-0.

A year later, USM Alger stunned Al Ahly 1-0 before Zamalek continued the trend in 2024 by overcoming the Egyptian giants on penalties.

Pyramids interrupted the sequence in October 2025 becoming the only Champions League winner to claim the Super Cup during this five edition period.

However, USM Alger's latest victory has restored the Confederation Cup's remarkable dominance.

Why are Confederation Cup winners outperforming Champions League holders?

The recent figures represent a significant contrast with the competition's traditional hierarchy.

Historically, Champions League winners enjoyed a stronger record in the Super Cup, reflecting their success against Africa's leading clubs.

Between 2017 and 2021, Champions League holders won four of the six Super Cup finals played, with Al Ahly claiming both editions staged in 2021.

Since 2022, however, that advantage has largely disappeared.

One possible explanation is the unique nature of the Super Cup itself.

Unlike the Champions League and Confederation Cup which require sustained performances across several months, the Super Cup is decided in a single match.

That format reduces the significance of squad depth and long term consistency, allowing preparation, defensive organisation and individual moments to play a particularly important role.

Nevertheless, five matches represent a relatively small statistical sample. The recent results demonstrate a genuine pattern without necessarily proving that Confederation Cup teams have become stronger overall.

USM Alger provide the latest evidence

Sunday's final offered another striking example.

Sundowns entered the encounter as reigning Champions League winners and enjoyed home advantage in Pretoria.

Yet USM Alger produced an outstanding attacking display, scoring three times against their South African opponents.

Ahmed Khaldi was particularly influential, contributing a goal and an assist as the Algerians secured another continental trophy.

The victory completed an extraordinary campaign for USM Alger who had previously defeated Zamalek on penalties to win the 2025/26 Confederation Cup.

It also strengthened the club's reputation for delivering against Champions League winners, following their historic 2023 triumph over Al Ahly.

USM Alger have now won both of their Super Cup appearances, defeating two of the continent's most established sides.

Has the CAF Super Cup hierarchy really changed?

The statistics are difficult to ignore: four victories for Confederation Cup champions and just one for Champions League winners since 2022.

However, the implications extend beyond suggesting that Africa's second-tier continental competition has overtaken its premier tournament.

Instead, the results indicate that success in the Champions League no longer guarantees a decisive advantage when the continent's two champions meet.

The Confederation Cup winners have repeatedly demonstrated that they can compete with, and defeat, Africa's most successful clubs on the biggest occasions.

The Champions League may still represent the highest level of African club competition but recent Super Cup history tells a different story: its champions are no longer dominating the ultimate continental showdown.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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Mamelodi Sundowns FC

USM Alger

CAF Super Cup