Rulani Mokwena speaks on MC Alger future after Champions League exit

Rulani Mokwena has admitted that his future is no longer in his hands after Mamelodi Sundowns dumped MC Alger out of the CAF Champions League in the group phase.

The former Sundowns coach’s return to Loftus Versfeld Stadium was anything but a fairytale as the Tshwane giants’ clinical 2-0 victory on Saturday evening sent MC Alger packing from the Champions League.

The defending Algerian champions arrived in the capital needing only a solitary point to secure a quarter-final berth. However, the Brazilians showed no mercy to their former mentor, marching into the semi-finals and leaving the “Doyen” to rue a campaign that Mokwena insists was lost long before the final whistle in Pretoria.

Reflecting on a group stage exit that falls short of last season’s final-eight finish, Mokwena was adamant that the damage was done during a disastrous opening spell where they picked up just one point from their first three games.

“We didn’t get knocked out today,” said Rulani Mokwena .“If you review our participation, the turning point was away in Rwanda against Al Hilal. In this competition, securing a point away from home is vital. We also missed opportunities at home against Sundowns and could have taken a point in Lubumbashi.”

Future in the Balance For Rulani Mokwena?

Despite having already delivered silverware this season—lifting the 2025 Algerian Super Cup in January—the weight of a Champions League exit has inevitably sparked questions about his longevity in Algiers.

When pressed on whether he would remain in the hot seat to see out his project, Mokwena’s response was uncharacteristically guarded.

“I don’t know. I’m focused on what’s left of the remaining season, and that’s a question that’s not within my control now,” he admitted.

While the continental dream has evaporated, Rulani Mokwena remains the frontrunner for domestic glory. MC Alger currently sit four points clear at the summit of Ligue 1 with four games in hand over their nearest rivals, CS Constantine.

The focus now shifts rapidly to a Friday night clash against MC Oran, followed by a mouth-watering Algerian Cup tie on March 3rd against Sead Ramovic’s CR Belouizdad. With the league and cup still within reach, Mokwena has the chance to secure a historic domestic double—a feat that might be the only thing capable of silencing the critics after their African heartbreak.

For now, the man who was once the “darling of Loftus” heads back to North Africa with his trophy cabinet growing, but his future seemingly hovering in the balance.