South African coach Rulani Mokwena will lead Mouloudia Alger’s bid for African Champions League success this season after signing a two-year contract to take over at the Algerian champions.
Mokwena replaces the Tunisian Khaled Ben Yahia, who chose not to activate the optional year of his contract, despite last season taking the club to the Ligue 1 title as well as the Super Cup.
The 38-year-old Mokwena spent last season at Wydad Casablanca in neighbouring Morocco but did not complete the season, missing out on taking the team to the Club World Cup in the United States.
“Mokwena arrives with the label of a modern coach, adept at structured and ambitious football,” wrote Algeria’s El Moudjahid on Monday.
Rulani Mokwena has been appointed the new head coach of MC Alger in Algeira.
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 14, 2025
He will go head-to-head with familiar opponents in Josef Zinnbauer (JS Kabylie) and Sead Ramovic (CR Belouizdad) 👀#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/Rj1YH29OK8
“Having risen to prominence on the bench of Mamelodi Sundowns, with whom he shone on the continental stage, he embodies a new generation of African coaches who are both rigorous and innovative.
“His arrival reflects a clear commitment from the MC Alger management: to further professionalise and take their African ambitions to the next level,” the newspaper added.
MC Alger were African champions in 1976 and if Mokwena is to be successful in the Champions League next year, it will mark the 50th anniversary since their only triumph in the continent’s top club competition.
Mokwena won four league titles in South Africa with Mamelodi Sundowns. He also coached at Chippa United and Orlando Pirates.