Mamelodi Sundowns are back in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final, again. For South African football, that’s cause for celebration. But for Sundowns themselves, it raises a more uncomfortable question: why has getting here become routine, but winning hasn’t?
The tournament begins with 16 teams split into four groups. Teams play each other both home and away, and the top two from each group move on to the knockout stage. From there, teams compete in elimination rounds until a winner is crowned, who then qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup. The final will be played over two legs on May 17 and May 24, 2026, with the first match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and the return leg in Rabat, Morocco, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Their latest run to the final was sealed with a controlled 2–0 aggregate victory over Espérance de Tunis. Bryan Leon scored in both legs, underlining Sundowns’ ability to manage high-pressure ties with composure.
Since lifting the trophy in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane, Sundowns have become one of the most consistent sides in African club football. They have reached the knockout stages year after year and are now in their fourth final, including back-to-back appearances. Consistency is no longer in question.
Under current coach Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns have taken another step forward but also hit a familiar ceiling. This will be Cardoso’s third consecutive CAF Champions League final. He lost in 2024 with Espérance and again in 2025 with Sundowns. Experience at this level is something he has in abundance. A title, however, remains elusive.
Sundowns’ journey this season hasn’t been flawless. They finished second in their group and showed moments of vulnerability, particularly in defence. Set pieces and small lapses in concentration have repeatedly cost them in knockout football, an issue that resurfaced in last season’s final defeat to Pyramids FC.
Those patterns matter because finals are rarely decided by dominance alone. They are often decided by small margins: one mistake, one lapse, one missed adjustment. Sundowns have remained remarkably consistent in the CAF competition. They have reached the CAF Champions League group stage for 11 consecutive seasons, a record they share with Al Ahly, and have progressed beyond that stage in all but one of those campaigns. Their opponents, AS FAR, present a different kind of challenge. The Moroccan side, chasing their first title since 1985, will come into the two-legged final with momentum and hunger. The first leg was played on 17 May at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, before the return leg in Rabat a week later.
On paper, Sundowns have the stronger, more experienced squad. They are used to this stage. They know how to navigate it. But recent history suggests that familiarity does not guarantee success.
Midfielder Bathusi Aubaas has already pointed to what needs to change: mentality. In finals, technical quality alone is not enough. Urgency, aggression, and resilience often make the difference.
That may be the final hurdle for Sundowns. Not reaching the final part they have mastered, but breaking the cycle of near-misses. Because until they do, every new final will carry the same question: Is this finally their year?
