Mamelodi Sundowns battled AS FAR in Rabat on Sunday night 24 May during an intense CAF Champions League final second leg to decide the African kings.
Drama unfolds in Rabat
The Moroccan hosts entered second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from first leg in Pretoria.
They got exactly what they needed just before the interval. Reda Slim drew a foul inside the box allowing captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat to coolly convert a 40th minute penalty.
The successful spot-kick sent the home crowd into a frenzy and leveled the tie on aggregate.
However the celebrations were short lived. In the seventh minute of first half stoppage time, South African midfield general Teboho Mokoena silenced the stadium.
Mokoena unleashed a fierce long range strike that flew past the Moroccan goalkeeper, this quick response completely changed the complex mechanics of the final restoring Sundowns’ 2-1 aggregate lead right before the referee blew for halftime.
ποΈ Match Highlights:A 1-1 draw crowns Mamelodi Sundowns as #TotalEnergiesCAFCL champions vs AS FAR! pic.twitter.com/Cwv3Rlysum
β TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC π (@CAFCLCC) May 24, 2026
The decisive turning point
The second half provided AS FAR with a golden opportunity to push the match into extra time.
With roughly 15 minute left on the clock, the referee awarded the military club a second penalty. Hrimat stepped up once more to rescue his side but this time, pressure got the upper hand.
The skipper missed the target squandering a priceless opportunity to revive the Moroccan dream.
Following the penalty miss, the Pretoria based outfit leaned heavily on their continental experience. They slowed down the tempo, choked the spaces in midfield and effectively managed the final minutes to frustrate the Moroccan attack.
Global rewards and redemption
This victory marks Sundowns’ second CAF Champions League trophy adding to their maiden star earned back in 2016.
It also serves as massive redemption for the Brazilians who suffered a painful defeat in last season’s final against Egypt’s Pyramids FC. Their dominant run this year included a convincing 2-0 aggregate victory over Tunisian giants Esperance in semi finals cementing their status as Africa’s most consistent team.
Beyond continental glory, this triumph books Sundowns a lucrative ticket to both the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the highly anticipated 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
The long term sporting and financial benefits will firmly establish the South African club as a global brand.
β π§ππ π¦πππ’π‘π π¦π§ππ₯ βMasandawana conquer the continent to claim our second #TotalEnergiesCAFCL title! πBe proud Masandawana! The journey is complete! π#Sundowns #AreyengMasandawanaUntilItsDone pic.twitter.com/pg67gAn2Vy
β Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 24, 2026
Breaking the Northern Stranglehold
Sundowns’ triumph represents a rare shift in power breaking the traditional dominance of North African clubs who have won 8 of the last 10 Champions League titles.
This continental triumph mirrors the historic 2016 run when Pitso Mosimane led Sundowns to their first star against Egypt’s Zamalek.
AS FAR will deeply regret their missed opportunities leaving them empty handed as their wait for a first continental crown since 1985 continues.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
