This action comes against the backdrop of accusations that Masha leaked sensitive tactical information to the former coach and current coach of MC Alger, ahead of the teams’ anticipated match in the CAF Champions League this Saturday, in the sixth and final round of Group 3 in the group stage.
Sundowns now need to secure all three points to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. The South African team currently sits in third place in the group standings with 6 points, two points behind the group leader, Al-Hilal of Sudan, who faces Saint-Éloi Lupopo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo champion, who is at the bottom of the table with 5 points. Meanwhile, MC Alger is in second place with 7 points.
Masha, one of the longest-serving members of Sundowns’ technical staff who joined during the tenure of a previous head coach, denied committing any offense. Despite his position, the club decided to suspend him pending the outcome of internal investigations.
The importance of the match against MC Alger increased after Sundowns drew 1-1 with their hosts Lupopo in the city of Lubumbashi on Sunday, following which the Portuguese head coach made controversial statements after the match.
The coach said in remarks reported by a website: “We hope the stadium will be full of our fans on match day to support the team, nothing more. I hope the opponent does not expect or know how we will play. I hope we control that to ensure the integrity of the match from our side.”
Shortly thereafter, reports emerged linking Masha to the alleged leak, with the analyst identified as a suspected source of the leaked information ahead of the anticipated return of the MC Alger coach to Loftus Versfeld stadium.
Nevertheless, the coach clarified his intentions before his trip to the city, stating that his team is focused solely on the task at hand.
The coach stated: “This is not about taking the team’s players to visit friends and family or going on a safari,” emphasizing the importance of the match, as a victory would secure the Algerian team a place in the knockout stage.
Masha is scheduled to appear before an internal disciplinary hearing in an attempt to clear his name, a development that has caused concern within the Sundowns camp given his service of over a decade with the club.
MC Alger
MC Alger is a professional football club based in Algiers, Algeria, founded in 1921 during the French colonial period. Historically, it is one of the country’s oldest and most successful clubs, having won numerous national championships and the CAF Champions League. The club is deeply embedded in Algerian sporting culture and is known for its large, passionate fanbase.
CAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League is the premier annual club football competition in Africa, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It was founded in 1964 as the African Cup of Champions Clubs before being rebranded to its current name in 1997, and it crowns the continent’s top club side.
Sundowns
Sundowns is a South African professional football club based in Pretoria, founded in 1970. It has grown to become one of the country’s most successful teams, dominating the Premier Soccer League and winning multiple domestic and continental titles, including the CAF Champions League.
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal is a professional football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founded in 1957. It is one of Asia’s most successful clubs, with a record number of Saudi Professional League titles and Asian Champions League trophies. The club has a deep-rooted rivalry with Al-Nassr and is historically associated with the Saudi royal family.
Sudan
Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa with a rich history as the home of ancient Nubian kingdoms, such as Kush, which rivaled Egypt. It later became the site of the Sultanate of Sennar and, in the 19th century, was jointly ruled by Egypt and Britain before gaining independence in 1956. The country is culturally diverse, with numerous ethnic groups and archaeological sites like the pyramids of Meroë.
Saint-Éloi Lupopo
Saint-Éloi Lupopo is a major football club based in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, founded in 1939 during the Belgian colonial era. It is one of the country’s oldest and most successful clubs, named after Saint Eligius (Éloi), the patron saint of metalworkers, reflecting the region’s mining heritage.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in Central Africa, is a country with a complex history marked by Belgian colonial rule under King Leopold II and a subsequent struggle for independence achieved in 1960. It is renowned for its vast mineral resources and the Congo River basin, which contains the world’s second-largest rainforest.
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, founded in 1910 by Belgian colonists as the mining settlement of Élisabethville. Its modern history and growth are deeply tied to the rich copper and cobalt deposits of the Katanga region, which it served as the capital until 1966. Today, it remains a major economic and cultural hub for southeastern DRC.
Loftus Versfeld stadium
Loftus Versfeld Stadium is a major rugby and soccer venue located in Pretoria, South Africa, which opened in 1906. It is named after a former sports administrator, William Loftus Versfeld, and was extensively renovated for the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Algerian team
The Algerian national football team, known as “Les Fennecs” (The Desert Foxes), represents Algeria in international men’s football. Founded in 1958 during the Algerian War of Independence, the team was initially formed as a political symbol by the FLN to promote the cause of Algerian sovereignty. It has since become a major source of national pride, most notably winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990 and 2019.
