Pretoria — Mamelodi Sundowns secured a vital 1-0 victory against Morocco’s AS FAR in the first leg of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, placing the South African side in a strong position to claim a second continental title.
(Source: @ourAfricanFooty)
Aubrey Modiba’s free-kick in the 37th minute proved decisive in a match where Sundowns controlled possession and created numerous chances but were unable to extend their lead against a resilient AS FAR squad.
The Brazilian’s well-executed set-piece curled perfectly, catching the goalkeeper off guard and sending the local fans into a frenzy.
(Source: x.com)
The home side dominated significant portions of the match, particularly in the first half, with Teboho Mokoena and others orchestrating play from the midfield.
Sundowns, who last lifted the trophy in 2016, have reached the final for the second consecutive season after overcoming Espérance de Tunis in the semi-finals.
Their domestic campaign has seen them fall behind rivals Orlando Pirates in the PSL, increasing the urgency for continental triumph this year.
(Source: reuters.com)
AS FAR, who finished as runners-up in their group and displayed impressive form leading up to the final, will be hopeful about their chances in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 24 May 2026.
The Moroccan team has drawn twice against Sundowns in last season’s group stage, indicating that they are more than capable of turning around the deficit.
(Source: cafonline.com)
The second leg is set to be exhilarating, with the away goals rule no longer applicable after the group stage—meaning extra time and penalties could be required to determine the champion if the aggregate score is tied.
A record $6 million prize awaits the winning team.
(Source: youtube.com)
Disclaimer: This article was generated using the AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies.
