CAFCL: Al Hilal hold on to defeat MC Alger in Kigali

Substitute Mohamed Abdelrahman scored with his first touch of the match on Friday as Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman overcame MC Alger for a 2-1 victory to begin play in Group C from the CAF Champions League (CAFCL).

The club captain made an instant impact at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda by providing the winner with an accurate finish in the 75th minute, less than a minute after coming on.

A hard fought match saw little action in the first half until the very end, when hosts Al Hilal struck through Abdel Raouf. The midfielder arrvied to finish from Jean Claude Girumugisha’s cross and give the Sudanese champions the lead at their adopted home for the 2025-26 campaign.

Algerian champions MCA came out much more inspired after the halftime break and soon grabbed an equalizer in the 53rd minute. A strong team movement down the right flank provided space for Oussama Benhaoua, whose cross took a deflection off Hilal defender Mustafa Karshoum and past goalkeeper Farid Ouedraogo at his near post.

It appeared that the teams were heading for a draw but Sudan national team star Abdelrahman provided the moment of quality for Hilal. A bit of good fortune on another attack down the right wing ended with Steven Ebuela’s cross finding Abdelrahman, who expertly placed his low finish past MCA goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz for the match winner.

Late on, Salah Adel was sent off for the hosts with a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle from behind, but the visitors could not find an equalizer in the final minutes.

Next up in Group C, the Sudanese champions will travel to DR Congo to face FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo next weekend while MC Alger prepare to host group favorites Mamelodi Sundowns.