Soccer
Williams and Mokoena inspire Sundowns to continental glory─── MORGAN PIEK 07:37 Mon, 25 May 2026
Mamelodi Sundowns earned a second star on their chest on Sunday night by winning the CAF Champions League in Morocco by playing to a 1-1 draw against AS FAR in Rabat during the second leg of the final.
The 1-0 win against the Moroccan team a week earlier at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria saw the Brazilians winning the final with a 2-1 aggregate to win Africa’s biggest club competition for just the second time, and for the first time in a decade.
Backed by a deafening home crowd, AS FAR came flying out of the blocks as they searched desperately for a way back into the tie.
The Moroccan side controlled large portions of possession early on and repeatedly launched attacks into the Sundowns' penalty area, but the Downs defence stood firm under immense pressure.
Mohamed Hrimat opened the scoring for Rabat with a penalty. Photo: CAF
The defensive quartet of Khuliso Mudau, Keanu Cupido, Grant Kekana and Divine Lunga produced a disciplined display, frustrating the hosts and limiting them to very few clear-cut opportunities.
FAR captain Mohamed Hrimat threatened early when he met a dangerous delivery in the box, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
As the first half progressed, Sundowns slowly found their rhythm. Tashreeq Matthews nearly silenced the home supporters midway through the half with a powerful long-range strike that drifted narrowly wide.
The match burst into life ten minutes before the interval when the referee consulted VAR following a challenge by Lunga on Reda Slim inside the box. After a lengthy review, a penalty was awarded to the hosts.
Hrimat kept his composure from the spot in the 40th minute, firing past Ronwen Williams to level the tie on aggregate and ignite the Rabat crowd.
But just as momentum appeared to swing in favour of the Moroccans, Sundowns produced a moment of brilliance.
Brayan León of Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: CAF
Deep into first-half stoppage time, Brayan Leon whipped a dangerous ball into the area before Matthews cleverly redirected it into the path of Teboho Mokoena. The Bethlehem-born Bafana Bafana midfielder unleashed a thunderous first-time strike off the underside of the crossbar to level the score on the night and restore Sundowns’ aggregate advantage in spectacular fashion.
The goal proved to be a massive psychological blow for the Royal Armed Forces team heading into the break.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso responded to the second-half pressure by introducing Marcelo Allende for Kutlwano Letlhaku as the visitors looked to regain control in midfield.
AS FAR continued to throw everything forward and nearly found another breakthrough when Hrimat headed narrowly wide from a corner.
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Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams!
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The biggest moment of the second half arrived in the 74th minute. Following another VAR review, Williams was adjudged to have fouled Youssef El Fahli in the area, handing the hosts a golden chance to drag themselves back into the contest.
Once again, Hrimat stepped up, but this time the national coach, Williams, rose to the occasion, and guessed correctly and produced a magnificent save to deny the Moroccan skipper and preserve his side’s slender aggregate lead.
That moment ultimately proved decisive.
Sundowns nearly added another goal soon afterwards when the Brazilian player Arthur Sales created space for Jayden Adams, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide. Lebogang Mothiba also had the ball in the net late on, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
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In the end, Sundowns’ resilience, defensive discipline and big-match composure carried them over the line on a difficult night in Rabat.
Mokoena’s stunning strike and Williams’ heroic penalty save will live long in the memory as the Brazilians celebrated another famous continental triumph and confirmed their status among Africa’s elite clubs once more.
While Sundowns failed to win a record-extending ninth consecutive Premier Soccer League title, their continental glory is well worth it, and hence they've also qualified for the next FIFA Club World Cup.
