Roughly ten minutes before the final whistle at a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the home supporters began leaving in noticeable numbers. Facing an aggregate deficit that looked increasingly difficult to overturn, portions of the AS FAR crowd headed for the exits early, leaving the final behind.
By the time the fourth official signalled eight minutes of added time, significant sections of the stadium had emptied out. In contrast, the travelling contingent of Mamelodi Sundowns fans remained vocal in the away end, their chanting carrying through the stadium as the final minutes ticked down.
Despite facing a challenging atmosphere that included green laser pointers and objects directed at the bench, Sundowns displayed the necessary composure to see the game out. A disciplined 1-1 draw on the night secured a 2-1 aggregate victory, earning the Chloorkop side their second CAF Champions League title, ten years after their maiden continental crown under Pitso Mosimane in 2016.
Crucially, this achievement makes Sundowns the first South African club to win the competition more than once, moving them ahead of domestic rivals Orlando Pirates, who won a single title in 1995. For a team that has faced near-misses in recent seasons—including a defeat in last year’s final and several semi-final exits—the victory provides a major sense of validation.
It also represents a significant milestone for head coach Miguel Cardoso, who claimed his first Champions League title after falling short in previous finals with both Sundowns and Espérance. On a broader note, this continental success serves as the ideal response to a domestic campaign where they surrendered the Betway Premiership title to Pirates, ending their eight-year dominance in South African football.
WEATHERING THE AS FAR STORM: FROM LUNGA’S HEARTBREAK TO MOKOENA’S CLUTCH EQUALISER
Sundowns entered the second leg holding a 1-0 advantage from the opening match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, which was decided by an Aubrey Modiba free-kick last weekend. Ahead of the return fixture in Rabat, Cardoso made a tactical adjustment, leaving Modiba on the bench and starting Divine Lunga to provide additional defensive stability on the left side.
The primary objective was to withstand AS FAR’s early attacking pressure, but the game plan was disrupted in the 34th minute. Lunga was penalised for a challenge in the penalty box, and following a VAR review, the referee awarded a spot-kick.
AS FAR midfielder Mohamed Hrimat stepped up and converted the penalty into the bottom right corner, levelling the tie at 1-1 on aggregate.
Sundowns adjusted quickly despite the setback and the vocal home crowd. Deep into first-half stoppage time, they found the crucial breakthrough. In the 45+7th minute, Tashreeq Matthews turned provider to set up Teboho Mokoena inside the area. The midfielder kept his composure to strike a right-footed shot into the roof of the net, silencing the stadium and restoring Sundowns’ aggregate lead just before the interval.
ℝ𝔼𝔻 ℂ𝔸ℝ𝔻! 🟥 𝕄𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕕𝕚 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕒𝕝𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝔻𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕤 𝕆𝕟𝕪𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕠 𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕠𝕗𝕗!
Denis Onyango has been sent off from the bench during the celebrations of Teboho Mokoena’s equalizer against AS FAR.
Onyango threw a water bottle back… pic.twitter.com/o43mDMnpjJ
— Mthokozisi Dube (@dube_mthoko) May 24, 2026
RONWEN WILLIAMS DENIES AS FAR FROM THE SPOT
𝔽ℝ𝕆𝕄 ℍ𝔼ℝ𝕆 𝕋𝕆 𝕍𝕀𝕃𝕃𝔸𝕀ℕ 𝕋𝕆 ℍ𝔼ℝ𝕆! 🤯🧤
Ronwen Williams concedes a penalty after a costly mistake, sparking a tense VAR review. The penalty stands…
BUT HE SAVES IT! Williams redeems himself instantly with a massive stop to keep the scoreline intact!
What a… pic.twitter.com/fbjyavIvad
— Mthokozisi Dube (@dube_mthoko) May 24, 2026
The second half required a measured performance in game management. Cardoso introduced Marcelo Allende at halftime in place of Kutlwano Letlhaku to help regain control of the midfield structures. AS FAR pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser, and their opportunity arrived in the 71st minute when goalkeeper Ronwen Williams conceded a penalty following a challenge on Youssef El Fahli.
After another lengthy VAR deliberation, Hrimat had the chance to level the aggregate score once again from the penalty spot. However, Williams read the situation perfectly, diving low to his right to make a crucial save and preserve Sundowns’ advantage.
Following the penalty save, the Sundowns defensive unit—complemented by the introduction of Grant Kekana alongside the energetic Khuliso Mudau—effectively managed the remaining passages of play. They restricted the hosts to speculative crosses and navigated the final minutes with a high level of professional maturity.
A RECORD R98.2-MILLION WINDFALL: THE MASSIVE FINANCIAL REWARDS OF SUNDOWNS’ AFRICAN CONQUEST
In addition to the competitive prestige, the victory secures a substantial financial boost for the club. Sundowns walk away with a record first-prize payout of R98.2 million ($6 million USD), reflecting CAF’s increased commercial investment in its premier club competition. The final also highlighted the growing global interest in African football, with the match broadcast across more than 100 territories worldwide.
The continental title significantly expands Sundowns’ upcoming competitive calendar, booking their place in three major international tournaments. They have secured a spot in the CAF Super Cup 2026 against CAF Confederation Cup winners USM Alger. Furthermore, the victory earns them entry into the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2026 later this year to test themselves against the club champions of FIFA’s other global confederations, as well as a guaranteed long-term seat at the expanded 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
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