Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates goal during the CAF Champions League 2025/26 2nd leg final match between AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 24 May 2026 ©Mohamed Bissar/BackpagePix
Sunday May 24, 2026. 23:10
Mamelodi Sundowns have been crowned the Kings of Africa after they overcame ASFAR 2-1 on aggregate in the final of the CAF Champions League, with the second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night ending 1-1.
Combined with a 1-0 win in the first leg in Tshwane last weekend, the Brazilians took the tie 2-1 on aggregate to win the continental championship for a second time, adding to their maiden triumph a decade ago in 2016.
ASFAR started strongly and dominated the opening quarter of the match, though they created only one genuine chance, with Mohamed Hrimat slicing a shot well wide in the 16th minute after good work down the right flank from Reda Slim and Anas Bach.
Around the midway point of the first half, Sundowns began to find their rhythm, with Kutlwano Lethlaku seeing a low drive saved by ASFAR goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti, before Tashreeq Matthews flashed a long-range effort wide of the mark.
The hosts were awarded a penalty via VAR review in the 37th minute when Divine Lunga was caught out by Slim and fouled the ASFAR no.10 in trying to recover. Hrimat took the spot kick and coolly converted to make it 1-0 in the 40th minute and 1-1 on aggregate.
Three minutes later the Moroccan side almost found the back of the net again, with Abdelfettah Hadraf arriving late to meet a pull back from the left by-line, but he struck a volley off target.
Sundowns were close to levelling the game early in injury time before the break when Brayan Leon helped Lunga’s cross from the left toward goal, but Tagnaouti made a sharp save.
However, the ASFAR goalkeeper was helpless to prevent a brilliant equaliser from Sundowns on the cusp of half time, as Leon and Matthews combined before Teboho Mokoena thumped home a half-volley via the underside of the crossbar – a priceless away goal for the Brazilians, putting them back ahead 2-1 on aggregate.
Sundowns controlled the game well in the second half until the 72nd minute when Ronwen Williams fumbled a low shot and collided with Youssef El Fahli in an attempt to claim the loose ball. Another VAR review was called for, and a second penalty was awarded to ASFAR.
However, Williams redeemed himself with a magnificent save from Hrimat’s spot kick, keeping the visitors in charge of the tie.
ASFAR kept on fighting in their search for a second goal, but the missed penalty deflated their spirits, as well as the fervour of their supporters (who began leaving in the dying minutes), as the match ultimately closed out with a 1-1 draw.
ASFAR (1) 1 (Hrimat 40’ pen)
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Mokoena 45+7’)
Mamelodi Sundowns won 2-1 on aggregate
ASFAR: Tagnaouti, Bach, Loudani, Mendy, Carneiro (Chamakh 90+5’), Hrimat, Ouarkhane, Hammoudan (Bouriga 79’), Slim (El Khfiyef 90+5’), Hadraf, El Fahli
Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Cupido, Ndamane, Lunga, Mokoena, Adams, Santos (Sales 64’ [Zwane 90+8’]), Lethlaku (Allende 46’), Matthews (Kekana 81’), Leon (Mothiba 81’)