A decade after conquering the continent for the first time, Mamelodi Sundowns are once again CAF Champions League winners after securing a tense 2-1 aggregate victory over AS FAR in Rabat on Sunday evening.
Sundowns entered the CAF Champions League Final second leg at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah holding a narrow 1-0 advantage courtesy of Aubrey Modiba’s free-kick winner at Loftus Versfeld Stadium last weekend.
The hosts applied pressure from the outset and eventually found the breakthrough in the 34th minute when Lunga was penalised for a challenge inside the box following a VAR review. Mohamed Hrimat converted the resulting penalty to level the tie at 1-1 on aggregate and hand AS FAR the lead on the night.
Sundowns went into halftime trailing and under intense pressure, but they responded strongly after the restart.
In the 51st minute, Tashreeq Matthews produced a clever assist for Teboho Mokoena, who kept his composure before smashing a right-footed strike into the roof of the net to restore Sundowns’ aggregate advantage and silence the Rabat crowd.
The equaliser sparked emotional celebrations on the Sundowns bench, although the moment was briefly overshadowed when veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango was sent off from the bench. Onyango reacted after objects were allegedly thrown toward the Sundowns technical area, throwing a water bottle back into the crowd and leaving the visitors without a backup goalkeeper for the remainder of the contest.
AS FAR were then handed a lifeline in the 71st minute after another VAR review judged goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to have fouled Youssef El Fahli inside the area.
But Williams produced one of the defining moments of the final.
The Bafana Bafana captain denied Hrimat from the penalty spot with a crucial save, preserving Sundowns’ aggregate lead and swinging momentum firmly in favour of the South African side.
As the game entered its closing stages, frustration began spreading around the stadium. Roughly ten minutes before the final whistle, sections of the home support started leaving the venue as hopes of a comeback faded.
By the time eight minutes of stoppage time were added, large parts of the stadium had emptied, while the travelling Sundowns supporters continued chanting as their side edged closer to history.
Sundowns thought they had effectively sealed the title in stoppage time when Lebo Mothiba found the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
The victory sees Sundowns become the first South African club to win the CAF Champions League more than once, surpassing rivals Orlando Pirates, who lifted the trophy in 1995.
For Cardoso, the triumph marks his first CAF Champions League title after previous disappointments in continental finals with both Sundowns and Espérance. It also provides redemption for a club that endured several painful near-misses in recent years, including defeat in last season’s final.
After surrendering the Betway Premiership title to Orlando Pirates and seeing their eight-year domestic dominance come to an end, Sundowns have now responded in the biggest possible fashion, by reclaiming their place at the summit of African football.
Speaking after the final whistle, Cardoso suggested that South African football authorities need to improve conditions for clubs competing in continental competitions if they want sustained success on the African stage.
“If South Africa wants again soon or in the future win the Champions League, it has to change some dynamics,” said Cardoso.
The Portuguese coach then referenced the absence of several key players, hinting at frustrations surrounding player availability ahead of the final.
Today, there are still some players that are potential Bafana Bafana players who could not play – Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Bathusi Aubaas.”
Cardoso further revealed that the trio had been exposed to circumstances he felt negatively impacted their readiness for such a crucial encounter.
And they are not here, because in the last moment they were exposed to something that is not normal. And they also could not play a final, they could’ve been useful today, very useful.”
The Sundowns mentor concluded by calling on decision-makers in South African football to prioritise creating an environment that allows clubs to compete more effectively at continental level.
So it’s time for people that are in charge of football in South Africa to really think what they want about the development of football in the country and if they create conditions to really push the teams forward.”
Ten years after Pitso Mosimane guided the club to their maiden continental crown in 2016, the Brazilians are champions of Africa once again.