South African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns win CAF Champions League title
By Luke Oluoch, May 25, 2026Mamelodi Sundowns were officially crowned the new kings of African football, lifting the CAF Champions League after a historic battle on the continent’s biggest stage on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
The South African club drew with AS FAR in the second leg of the elite CAF competition final in Morocco to claim a 2-1 aggregate victory and secure their new honour.
Rabat draw
Miguel Cardoso’s men clinched the long-awaited CAF Champions League trophy after a 10-year wait, earning their second star in the competition following their 2016 triumph.
The Brazilians had claimed a crucial 1-0 win in the first leg in Pretoria, South Africa, and endured a tough outing in the second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, managing a draw thanks to an Aubrey Modiba free-kick.
The two-legged final was not short of drama. The tie took a sudden turn when AS FAR captain Mohamed Hrimat converted a penalty in the 40th minute to level the tie 1-1 on aggregate, giving Sundowns a heavy task to navigate on enemy territory.
Teboho Mokoena strikes
However, the turning point came when Teboho Mokoena unleashed a thunderous rocket from the edge of the box that crashed into the net off the underside of the crossbar. With away goals still factoring into the competition, the Moroccans needed to score twice more to stand any chance of winning the title, a task that proved a tough ask.
The coveted feat comes with new possibilities for the club, as the side confirmed their participation in three top-tier club tournaments. By virtue of this win, the club officially secured its ticket to the massive, expanded 32-team edition of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2029.
Additionally, the club also qualified for the CAF Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Sundowns will now face off against CAF Confederation Cup winners USM Alger in the Super Cup for ultimate continental bragging rights.
Their conquest of the continent once more affirms the Brazilians’ dominance not just down south but also cements their status as an undisputed giant of modern African football.