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 club in a strong position to clinch 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 several chances but struggled to add to their lead against a resilient and determined AS FAR side.

The Brazilian’s expertly executed set-piece curled just right, catching the goalkeeper off-guard and igniting excitement among the home supporters.

(Source: x.com)

The home side exhibited dominance during key phases of the match, especially in the first half, with Teboho Mokoena and others effectively directing play from midfield.

Sundowns, who last claimed the trophy in 2016, have made it to the final for the second consecutive season after overcoming Espérance de Tunis in the semi-finals.

Their domestic season has seen them lag behind rivals Orlando Pirates in the PSL, enhancing the urgency for continental success this year.

(Source: reuters.com)

AS FAR, who finished as runners-up in their group and have shown commendable form leading up to the final, will be hopeful about their prospects in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on 24 May 2026.

The Moroccan team has drawn twice with Sundowns in last season’s group stage, indicating their capability to overcome the deficit.

(Source: cafonline.com)

The second leg is expected to be exhilarating, with the away goals rule no longer in play after the group stage—meaning that extra time and penalties might be necessary 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 created using the AI tool Grok on X and may contain inaccuracies.