One time CAF Champions League winners Algerian outfit Mouloudia Club d’Alger (MC Alger) South African coach Rulani Mokwena has been handed a two-month suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of violating the country’s currency regulations.
Mokwena was arrested on Sunday March 15th 2026 at the Houari Boumediene Airport after parting ways with MC Alger. The South African embassy in Algeria confirmed the arrest of the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach.
The 38-year-old was reportedly on his way to Libya before being arrested for not adhering to the country’s strict laws regarding taking out the foreign currency out of the state.
“The embassy in Algiers can confirm that it was notified of the arrest of Mr Rulani Mokwena [on Sunday], who is alleged to have violated Algeria’s foreign currency regulation(s),” the embassy told Sowetan on Monday.
“The mission is in touch with Mr Mokwena and is providing consular assistance to him,” they confirmed.
“Mokwena was detained after being found with 15 000 US Dollars in cash. In Algeria, you can’t travel with more than $7 500 … But what I know is that he’s now been released and is waiting to depart for Libya via Turkey,” journalist Nazim Bessol told Thabiso Mosia’s show.
“We have just received an update from the court that Mokwena was prosecuted and has been fined and also handed a two-month suspended sentence after being found with 14 200 euros (=$15 000).
“He was prosecuted for attempting to take foreign currency out of the country,” he concluded.
Mokwena is now expected to leave for Libya where he has reportedly agreed a deal with Al-Ittihad who recently signed Thembinkosi Lorch and Aziz Ki.
Mokwena arrived at MC Alger in mid-2025 after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns, taking on one of the most high-profile managerial roles in North African football.
Despite the short duration of his tenure, the 38-year-old enjoyed notable success with the Algerian outfit.
Under his guidance, MC Alger won the Algerian Super Cup, marking Mokwena’s first trophy outside South Africa. The club also remained top of the Algerian Ligue 1 standings for most of the current campaign.
However, the team endured disappointments in cup competitions, exiting both the Algerian Cup and the CAF Champions League during his time at the club.
