MC Alger claimed a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Al Hilal Omdurman in an entertaining CAF Champions’ League Group C encounter played in front of a packed Ali Amar Stadium in Algeria.
The hosts started on the front font in control from the opening minutes, pressing aggressively and moving the ball with confidence. Their early dominance paid off in the 15th minute when Moslem Antouf found the back of the net, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Buoyed by the early breakthrough, MC Alger continued to push forward, pinning Al Hilal deep and creating several promising chances. Just before halftime, Zinedine Ferhat doubled the advantage with a well-taken goal, giving the Algerian champions a deserved 2–0 lead at the break.
Al Hilal emerged with renewed urgency after the restart and gradually grew into the game. Their persistence was rewarded in the 77th minute when Ahmed M’Bracek pulled one back, injecting fresh tension into the contest and silencing the crowd momentarily.
The Sudanese giants threw everything forward in the closing stages, carving out a few clear opportunities as the pressure mounted. However, MC Alger’s defense stood firm under sustained late attacks, holding on to secure a vital 2-1 victory.
The narrow loss means they missed out on valuable points in what remains a tightly contested Group C, but their qualification hopes are still very much alive. A win or even a draw in their decisive match against Saint-Éloi Lupopo would be enough to see them progress to the next round.
The result also carried added significance given the recent history between the two sides. Al Hilal had won the first-leg meeting 2–1 at Amahoro Stadium, and MC Alger had failed to beat the Sudanese side in their previous three encounters, recording two defeats and a draw.
Before kick-off, MC Alger sat third in the group with four points and needed a win to close the gap on leaders Al Hilal, who had eight. The victory lifts the Algerian side provisionally to second place with seven points, just one behind Al Hilal.
However, the group standings remain open, with Mamelodi Sundowns (five points) and Saint-Éloi Lupopo (four points) still to play their fifth-round fixture on Sunday, setting the stage for a tense finish to Group C.
