South African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns officially captured their second continental crown after a gruelling 1-1 second-leg draw against Morocco’s AS FAR (Royal Armed Forces) on Sunday night, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League trophy.
The tense finale at the packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat initially tilted toward the hosts when AS FAR captain Mohamed Hrimat converted a 40th-minute penalty, levelling the tie on aggregate after Sundowns’ 1-0 first-leg win in Pretoria.
However, South African international midfielder Teboho Mokoena silenced the home crowd during first-half stoppage time, unleashing a thunderous, long-range strike from the edge of the penalty box that rattled off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
The Moroccans pushed forward in the second half but threw away a critical lifeline 15 minutes before the final whistle when Hrimat fired a second penalty over the crossbar, allowing the visitors to absorb intense late pressure and hold onto their narrow lead.
The victory marks exactly ten years since "The Brazilians" claimed their maiden African title in 2016 against Zamalek, placing them alongside Orlando Pirates as the only South African clubs to achieve continental glory.
"It was fully deserved, what this team has been through, knocking on the door every season," said an emotional Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams during his post-match pitch interview. "Finally the door opened for us and we get to add the star to the jersey."
Beyond continental bragging rights, the triumph triggers a massive financial windfall for the Pretoria-based outfit, courtesy of the upgraded prize structures instituted by African football's governing body.
According to an economic breakdown by the eNCA, Sundowns pocketed a record first prize of $6 million for winning the final, alongside automatic qualifications for the upcoming CAF Super Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and the lucrative 2029 expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Portuguese head coach Miguel Cardoso finally broke his continental jinx after suffering previous final defeats, successfully navigating a campaign that showcased structural resilience and tactical maturity on North African soil.