Tuesday Mar 03, 2026. 15:00
Two former coaches from South Africa’s top division are set to battle in the Algerian Cup as Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger face Sead Ramović’s CR Belouizdad at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday.
Both coaches served in South Africa’s top league, with Mokwena rising through the ranks at Mamelodi Sundowns to take control of the first team in October 2022, ending his tenure in July 2024. Ramović coached TS Galaxy from October 2021 until November 2024.
Mokwena joined MC Alger from Wydad AC in Morocco at the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign. He has enjoyed domestic success in the North African nation, with his side sitting atop the Algerian Ligue 1 standings with 37 points from only 17 games, four less than next-best CS Constantine. MC Alger has managed 11 wins, four draws and two losses in the league this season.
However, his side stumbled in continental competition and were knocked out of the CAF Champions League by his former team, Sundowns, in their final group game.
Ramović’s CR Belouizdad cruised through the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, topping group C with five wins and one loss from their six games. They are set to face Al Masry of Egypt in the quarterfinals.
Their continental success has come at the cost of positive results in the league. They sit eighth on the table, 11 points behind Mokwena’s men with the same number of games played.
When both served as head coaches in South Africa, Mokwena came off better with two wins to Ramović’s one and one game drawn.
With a shot at silverware on the line, both tacticians will be looking for an advantage as they meet again.
By Nic Gleeson