Mamelodi Sundowns have conquered Africa – and they are cashing in big time after a historic CAF Champions League triumph.
Coach Miguel Cardoso’s side edged Morocco’s AS FAR 2-1 on aggregate after battling to a tense 1-1 draw away from home on Sunday night.
Masandawana won the first leg 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Second star
The result saw Mamelodi Sundowns crowned CAF Champions League winners for the second time in their history, 10 years after they earned their iconic first star back in 2016.
This Mamelodi Sundowns squad has successfully followed in the legendary footsteps of Pitso Mosimane (the head coach at the time) and Percy Tau who starred during that memorable campaign.
This latest generation has now written its own chapter in Mamelodi Sundowns history.
Ronwen Williams once again delivered on the big stage, while Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane, Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau and Iqraam Rayners – among others – played key roles throughout the campaign.
SUNDOWNS POCKET CLOSE TO R100 MILLION IN PRIZE MONEY
Continental success comes with a massive financial reward.
As reported on The South African, Mamelodi Sundowns will pocket a record $6 million (around R98 million) after lifting Africa’s biggest club trophy.
CAF increased the winner’s prize money by 50% ahead of this season’s tournament, thus making it the richest payout in CAF Champions League history.
However, that’s not all.
Mamelodi Sundowns have now qualified for a number of other one-off matches and tournaments, all of which bring guaranteed financial incentives.
ONTO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS FOR THE BRAZILIANS BAFANA BAFANA STARS
Attention will now shift to international football.
Several Mamelodi Sundowns stars are expected to feature prominently for Bafana Bafana during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hugo Broos included nine Mamelodi Sundowns players in his 32-man preliminary squad, underlining the club’s dominance in South African football.
While one or two – at most – may be cut from the final 26-man squad heading to next month’s showpiece in North America, it’s a certainty that Broos will lean heavily on his Mamelodi Sundowns stars.
For now, though, Mamelodi Sundowns sit firmly on top of African football, with silverware, history and tens of millions of rands in prize money to show for it.
HOW DOES THIS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS SQUAD COMPARE TO THE 2016 SIDE UNDER PITSO MOSIMANE WHICH EARNED THEIR FIRST EVER CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STAR?
Let us know in the comments below …