Mamelodi Sundowns win CAF Champions League after dramatic Rabat final

Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned African champions for the second time in their history on Sunday, beating hosts FAR Rabat 2-1 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League final after a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The South African side, nicknamed “the Brazilians” because of the color of their kit, last won the trophy in 2016. They arrived in Morocco with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, but their lead was erased before halftime when FAR Rabat were awarded a penalty after Reda Slim was brought down by Divine Lunga. Mohamed Hrimat converted to level the tie.

Sundowns responded on the stroke of halftime, with Teboho Mokoena’s strike going in off the underside of the crossbar. The match remained finely balanced until the 74th minute, when Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams fouled Youssef El Fahli, giving FAR another penalty. Williams, however, redeemed himself by saving Hrimat’s spot-kick, preserving Sundowns’ advantage and helping them secure the title.

FAR Rabat had won the African Champions League once in their history, in 1985.

Coverage comparison

Reports of the final differ in their focus. Africa News concentrated on the match itself, detailing the key incidents—FAR’s first-half penalty, Sundowns’ equaliser, and Williams’ decisive save. Al Jazeera, writing ahead of the second leg, focused on the context and stakes, highlighting the pressure on Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, who had lost the previous two finals, and the financial rewards awaiting the champions.

The two outlets also present slight discrepancies in detail. Africa News reported the final score of the second leg as 1-1, while Al Jazeera’s pre-match report referred only to Sundowns’ 1-0 lead from the first leg and did not comment on the final outcome. The differing emphases mean that some facts—such as the exact scoring sequence in the second leg, as described by Africa News—are not corroborated by the other report.

Key claims

  • Mamelodi Sundowns won the CAF Champions League title with a 2-1 aggregate score, as reported by Africa News.
  • The second leg ended 1-1, according to Africa News.
  • Sundowns last won the trophy in 2016, a fact mentioned by both outlets.
  • FAR Rabat leveled the tie with a penalty before halftime, per Africa News.
  • Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved a penalty in the 74th minute, as reported by Africa News.
  • The winners of the CAF Champions League will receive $6m and a chance to win an additional $500,000 in the CAF Super Cup, according to Al Jazeera.
  • The champions will also qualify for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and receive a minimum $9.5m payout, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is under pressure after losing the last two finals, a claim carried by Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera reported that Portuguese coach Cardoso had taken clubs to the last two Champions League finals, only to fail with Esperance of Tunisia in 2024 and with Sundowns last season. That report was written before the second leg and did not reflect the eventual outcome.

Perspectives

Mamelodi Sundowns – The South African champions secured their second continental title, with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams’ penalty save proving decisive. Coach Miguel Cardoso, who had faced pressure after two final defeats, led the team to victory.

FAR Rabat – The Moroccan hosts, who had not won the competition since 1985, pushed Sundowns to a tense final, but were ultimately denied by Williams’ save. They will now turn their attention to domestic competitions.