Mamelodi Sundowns have officially been crowned kings of Africa, clinching the 2026 CAF Champions League title following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against FAR Rabat at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium. This result, combined with their 1-0 first-leg victory in Pretoria, secured a 2-1 aggregate win for the South African giants.
The final in Morocco was packed with drama. Mohamed Hrimat ignited the home crowd by converting a penalty in the 40th minute, momentarily leveling the aggregate score. However, the joy was short-lived. In the dying moments of the first half, Teboho Mokoena silenced the stadium with a trademark long-range rocket, restoring Sundowns’ lead in the tie.
Sundowns End Decade-Long Wait; FAR Rabat’s Heartbreak
The second half saw a golden opportunity for the hosts to mount a comeback, but Hrimat turned from hero to villain, missing a second penalty in the 76th minute. This miss effectively ended FAR Rabat’s hopes of returning to the continental throne they last occupied in the 1980s.
With this triumph, Mamelodi Sundowns have secured their second star, exactly ten years after their maiden title in 2016. Having lost the previous final to Egypt’s Pyramids FC, the “Brazilians” finally broke the curse to reclaim the trophy. Furthermore, this victory guarantees Sundowns a spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup, joining Pyramids as Africa’s confirmed representatives.
