The upcoming CAF Champions League Group C clash between Mamelodi
Sundowns and Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger is set to be a tactical battle, but a
look at the balance sheets reveals a significant financial gulf between the
two sides.
While the narrative will be dominated by Mokwena facing his former club, the
objective data highlights a stark contrast in squad investment. Sundowns
boast one of the most expensively assembled squads on the continent, a fact
reflected in their market valuations.
According to transfer website Transfermarkt, the total market value of the
Sundowns squad stands at a formidable €33.15 million (approx. R657 million).
This is driven by high-value individuals like their relatively new signing,
Portuguese midfielder Nuno Santos, who is their highest-valued player at
€2.5 million (R50 million). He is closely followed by striker Iqraam Rayners
(€2.4 million), with Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende both valued at €2.3
million (R46 million) each.
In comparison, Mokwena’s MC Alger pales in comparison. The Algerian club’s
total squad valuation is just €11.53 million (approx. R230 million)—less
than a third of Sundowns’ worth. Their talent pool is also less top-heavy,
with only three players valued over the one-million-euro mark: defensive
midfielder Mohamed Zougrana and winger Zakaria Naidji (both €1.2 million),
followed by winger Zinedine Ferhat (€1 million).
This financial disparity sets the stage for a classic contest of resource
versus strategy when the two teams meet for the first time in the group
stages on 28 November in Algeria.
