Pretoria — Mamelodi Sundowns secured a vital 1-0 victory over Morocco’s AS FAR in the first leg of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, putting the South African giants in pole position to claim a second continental title.
(Source: @ourAfricanFooty
Aubrey Modiba’s 37th-minute free-kick proved the difference in a match where Sundowns dominated possession and created numerous chances but were unable to add to their lead against a compact and resilient AS FAR side.
The Brazilian’s set-piece curled beautifully, wrong-footing the goalkeeper to send the home crowd into raptures.
(Source: x.com
The home side controlled large portions of the game, particularly in the first half, with Teboho Mokoena and others pulling the strings in midfield.
Sundowns, who last lifted the trophy in 2016, reached the final for the second successive season after overcoming Espérance de Tunis in the semi-finals.
A domestic campaign that saw them slip behind rivals Orlando Pirates in the PSL has heightened the importance of continental success this season.
(Source: reuters.com)
AS FAR, runners-up in their group and impressive en route to the final, will fancy their chances in front of a passionate home crowd at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 24 May 2026.
The Moroccan side drew twice with Sundowns in last season’s group stage, indicating they are more than capable of turning the tie around.
(Source: cafonline.com)
The second leg promises high drama, with the away goals rule no longer in effect after the group stage—meaning extra time and penalties could decide the champion if the aggregate remains level. ‘
A record $6 million prize awaits the winners.
(Source: youtube.com)
Disclaimer: This article was compiled using AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies
