Mamelodi Sundowns are Africa’s football kings after a 2-1 aggregate victory over AS Rabat in the final match of CAF Champions League played at Rabat in Morocco on Sunday evening.
Having won 1-0 a week ago at home in Pretoria, the Brazilians braved themselves in this sold-out second leg despite suffering some early nightmares as AS Far were throwing everything possible to get an early goal but it wasn’t meant to be.
A mistake by Devine Lunga who fouled Reda Slim in the danger zone saw AS Far in cloud nine after Video Assistant Referee’s decision to award them a penalty which was converted by their captain, Rabie Hrimat in the 39th minute.
Far’s joy was shortlived as the Brazilians fought back and immediately responded through Tebogo Mokoena whose scored from inside box in the 40th minute. This after a move initiated by Kutlwano Lethlaku and Tashreeq Matthews.
AS Far could have doubled their lead, but only to be denied by Rowen Williams when he stopped Hrimat’ second penalty in the 75th minute. This after another decision by VAR that the same Williams fouled FAR’s Youssef El Fahli in the penalty box.
Sundowns were their goal denied after Lebogang Mothiba was ruled offside in the fifth minute of referee’s added time of the second half.
The victory means Sundowns are the only club from the Southern Africa who have won CAF Champions two times. They won their first title in 2016, following on the footsteps of Orlando Pirates who won the competition back in 1995