MC Alger secured a vital 2-1 victory over Group C leaders Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League on Friday night, reigniting their qualification hopes. The Algerian side capitalized on early errors and a brilliant long-range goal to claim three points in Algiers. The result leaves the group tightly contested with one matchday remaining.
The Matchday 5 clash in Group C of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League took place at Stade Ali Ammar in Algiers on February 6, 2026, with kickoff at 19:00. Prior to the game, MC Alger sat third with four points from one win, one draw, and two defeats, while Al Hilal led the group with eight points from two wins and two draws.
MC Alger delivered a composed first-half performance to take control. In the 15th minute, Al Hilal goalkeeper Sofiane Farid's loose touch led to Zinedine Ferhat rounding him and squaring for Muslim Anatouf to tap in the opener. The hosts extended their lead just before halftime in the 44th minute, as Ferhat unleashed a powerful long-range effort that flew past Farid.
Al Hilal responded with urgency after the break, pulling one back in the 77th minute when Ahmed Salem broke through the defense and finished calmly. The Sudanese champions pushed for an equalizer, committing numbers forward, but MC Alger defended with discipline to hold on for the win.
This result marks Al Hilal's first defeat in the group stage and lifts MC Alger to seven points, moving them into second place. Al Hilal remain top with eight points, setting up a tense final round where qualification remains wide open.
