Ndiaye credits his side in overcoming one of Africa’s best top clubs at home

USM Alger coach Lamine Ndiaye has credited a good start for their 3-1 victory against Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Super Cup final in Pretoria. 

This was USMA’s second TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup title, with the first one coming in 2024. 

USMA’s Senegal born coach Lamine Ndiaye said scoring early made the game easier for his side. 

“We knew that Mamelodi Sundowns like to keep the ball. My players gave a lot of energy for that, even though we had many injuries, Sundowns too. It’s fortunate that we took the first opportunity we had and that was a good start. They equalised, but we were able to score the second goal. We had our plan. When we scored the third goal, we were certain that we would win the match. That third goal made the difference because the game opened up. We played against a great team of Sundowns,” USMA coach Ndiaye said. 

“Sundowns are ranked as the best team in Africa. They have been consistent in the last five years. They play good football. We did not come here just to play, but to win. This is a trophy, it is a big trophy for the continent and it means a lot for us and for the people of Algeria,” Ndiaye said. 

This was Ndiaye’s second TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup, on top of a TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup titles that he won in this past, making him one of the most decorated coaches in African football. 

The 70-year-old coach expressed his pride at winning as a coach, saying this is something he struggled to do when he was a footballer. 

“I have been driven by passion, first as a player, and now as a coach. I could not achieve much as a player, and I made a promise to myself that I must do more as a coach, and that is what I did. I had a chance to coach in Europe, but I took an opportunity to coach in Cameroon. I did that for six years. I have been all around Africa, and I have the passion. I have also coached great players who listen,” Ndiaye concluded.