WeeklySA_AdminTRIUMPH: Mamelodi Sundowns crowned CAF Champions League winners for a second time after edging AS FAR, with millions in prize money and a place on football’s biggest international stages now secured…
By WSAM Sports Correspondent
Mamelodi Sundowns are champions of Africa once again after completing a 2-1 aggregate victory over Morocco’s AS FAR to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League 2025/26 title and cap a memorable continental campaign.
A hard-fought 1-1 draw in Rabat on Sunday proved enough for the Pretoria giants to seal their second CAF Champions League crown, adding to their historic 2016 triumph after carrying a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg at home.
The result not only restored Sundowns to the summit of African club football but also unlocked a string of lucrative rewards and major global opportunities for the South African champions.
Sundowns pocket a record USD 6 million winners’ prize, underlining the growing financial value of Africa’s premier club competition.
Their triumph also books a place in the TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup 2026, where they will face Algerian side USM Alger, winners of the CAF Confederation Cup, in a one-off continental showdown between Africa’s two interclub champions.
The Brazilians have lifted the Super Cup before, beating TP Mazembe in 2017, while USM Alger claimed the title in 2023 with victory over Al Ahly.
Beyond Africa, Sundowns have now secured entry into the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026, where they will join champions from the world’s six confederations in a competition that offers a pathway to a global title.
Sundowns are African champions again — and now the road leads from Rabat to the global stage…
As Africa’s representatives, Sundowns are set to face the winner of a second-round clash involving Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and New Zealand’s Auckland City, while Europe’s representative will emerge from the UEFA Champions League final.
The CAF triumph also secures Sundowns a return to the FIFA Club World Cup 2029, confirming their place among the elite clubs who will compete on the world stage in the expanded global tournament.
For coach Miguel Cardoso and his squad, Sunday’s result marks more than a trophy — it is confirmation that Sundowns have reasserted themselves as one of Africa’s dominant football forces and a club increasingly capable of competing beyond the continent.
After years of near-misses and growing expectations, Sundowns have delivered the prize they craved most — and in doing so, opened the door to even bigger battles ahead.
