Mamelodi Sundowns secured a 2-0 victory over MC Alger to qualify for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, with both goals scored by Brayan Leon. The match was overshadowed by a heated touchline clash involving coaches Miguel Cardoso and Rhulani Mokwena. Mokwena accused Cardoso of violating FIFA rules by entering the away team's technical area during celebrations.
The CAF Champions League group stage concluded on February 15, 2026, with eight teams advancing to the quarter-finals. In Group C, South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Algeria's MC Alger 2-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, ensuring second place behind Sudan's Al Hilal, who won 1-0 against St Eloi Lupopo.
Colombian forward Brayan Leon scored both goals for Sundowns. He opened the scoring in the sixth minute by firing in a rebound after an initial save, and added the second just past the hour mark, turning in Aubrey Modiba's low cross at the near post. Sundowns dominated possession and chances, while MC Alger struggled to create threats.
The win eliminated MC Alger, coached by former Sundowns assistant Rhulani Mokwena, and provided relief for Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, who had faced pressure after last season's final loss to Pyramids FC. However, controversy erupted when Cardoso celebrated the second goal by entering MC Alger's technical area, prompting a confrontation.
Mokwena criticized the action as disrespectful and a breach of FIFA rules, stating, “The laws of the game prohibits any member of the technical team to go past fourth official and move across to the technical area of another team. If that’s not a clear sign of disrespecting opposition... it’s a clear violation of not even CAF rules, but FIFA rules.” He distanced himself from the incident, calling it provocation. Cardoso downplayed it, saying, “Expect [the] Champions League match to be emotional from both sides, a lot of things at stake, nothing more.”
Earlier in the week, spygate accusations surfaced when Sundowns analyst Mario Masha was alleged to have shared tactics with Mokwena, claims both sides denied.
Across other groups, Egypt's Pyramids FC topped Group A with 16 points after a 3-1 win over Power Dynamos, while RS Berkane advanced second with a 3-0 victory against Rivers United. In Group B, Al Ahly drew 0-0 with Morocco's AS FAR Rabat, both progressing, as Young Africans' 3-0 win over JS Kabylie was insufficient. Group D saw Mali's Stade Malien win the group despite a 1-0 loss to Simba SC, with Esperance de Tunis securing second via a 2-0 defeat of Petro de Luanda.
The quarter-final draw is scheduled for the following week.
