Mamelodi Sundowns will temporarily put their Betway Premiership title defence on hold as the Brazilians turn their attention to a demanding international schedule that will see them compete in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the CAF Champions League.
Masandawana have been one of the busiest teams in South African football this season, juggling domestic league commitments with continental and international competitions.
Their next assignment comes on Saturday, September 19, when they host Saudi Arabian giants Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
The match is scheduled for 3pm.
Sundowns earned their place in the competition after being crowned African champions, while Al Ahli qualified as the AFC Champions League Elite winners. Al Ahli secured their meeting with Sundowns after defeating Auckland City 1-0 in the previous round.
The fixture will provide Sundowns with another opportunity to test themselves against one of Asia’s leading clubs after their successful CAF Champions League campaign.
The Brazilians go into the international fixture having played their latest Betway Premiership match against Chippa United on September 12, a game that ended 1-1.
Their previous league fixtures included victories over Siwelele FC and Golden Arrows.
CAF Champions League awaits after their FIFA assignment, Sundowns will also have to prepare for their CAF Champions League title defence.
The reigning African champions have received a bye into the second preliminary round of the 2026/27 competition and will face Angolan side Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela.
Sccording to CAF, the first leg is scheduled for 16-18 October, with the return leg taking place between 23-25 October.
This means Sundowns will have to carefully manage their squad as they continue their pursuit of domestic and continental honours.
Domestic league break
The international commitments have created a gap in Sundowns’ Betway Premiership programme.
Their next listed league fixture is against Richards Bay on October 17, meaning the club will have a lengthy period between league matches while concentrating on international football.
For coach and players, the period presents a different challenge: maintaining their momentum while switching between competitions involving teams from different footballing backgrounds.
Sundowns have already shown their ability to compete on multiple fronts, but the coming weeks will put further demands on the squad’s depth, fitness and ability to adapt.
With the FIFA Intercontinental Cup encounter against Al Ahli followed by their CAF Champions League title defence against Wiliete, Masandawana’s attention now turns firmly towards international football before they return to the domestic league.
For the Brazilians, the challenge is not simply to remain competitive in South Africa, but to continue their quest for honours on the African and global stages.