MC Alger Rallies Late to Defeat Al Hilal Omdurman in CAF Champions League Opener

DOUÉRA, Algeria (Interstat) — Substitute Ahmed Salem M’Bareck scored a 77th-minute winner as MC Alger opened its CAF Champions League campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Al Hilal Omdurman on Friday at Stade Ali Ammar.

The match, played on Feb. 6, 2026, defied a pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 1-0 win for the Sudanese visitors. The result instead aligned more closely with the same service’s ELO rating, which gave the Algerian side a 65.7 percent probability of victory.

Al Hilal Omdurman stunned the home crowd early, taking the lead in the 15th minute. Forward Moslem Anatouf found the net with a right-footed finish to give the visitors an advantage they would carry into halftime.

MC Alger emerged from the break with increased urgency and found an equalizer just before the interval. In the 44th minute, forward Zinedine Ferhat leveled the score with a goal of his own, also struck with his right foot. The goal shifted momentum firmly in favor of the hosts.

The match grew increasingly tense in the second half, with three yellow cards issued in a short span. Al Hilal Omdurman’s Mustafa Karshom was booked in first-half stoppage time. MC Alger’s Abdelkader Menezla received a caution in the 72nd minute, followed by teammate Mohammed Benkhemassa just two minutes later.

The decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute. MC Alger manager’s decision to introduce M’Bareck paid immediate dividends. The substitute, who had entered the match earlier, secured all three points for his side with a left-footed strike, completing the turnaround.

Key performances underpinned the result. For MC Alger, M’Bareck’s match-winning goal was the standout contribution, while Ferhat’s first-half equalizer was crucial. For Al Hilal Omdurman, Anatouf’s early goal was the key offensive moment. The assists, recorded by Mustafa Karshom for Al Hilal Omdurman, and by Abdelkader Menezla and Mohammed Benkhemassa for MC Alger, were instrumental in creating the scoring opportunities.

With the win, MC Alger begins its group stage schedule with a perfect record of one win and no losses in the Champions League. Al Hilal Omdurman starts with one loss. The records mirror each team’s form across all competitions this season.