Mamelodi Sundowns Eye Second Consecutive CAF Champions League Final

by Devesh Jaganath

image Mamelodi Sundowns Eye Second Consecutive CAF Champions League Final
Mamelodi Sundowns will head into the second leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final clash against Esperance Tunis with a slender advantage after their 1-0 victory at the Stade Olympique Hammadi-Agrebi last week. The winner of this tie will meet either RS Berkane or AS FAR in this season’s CAFCL final.

Masandawana look to see out semi-final tie against ES Tunis

Mamelodi Sundowns confirmed our CAF Champions League predictions by taking a step closer to booking their place in the final of Africa’s premier competition last week, securing a 1-0 victory at the Stade Olympique Hammadi-Agrebi. 

New arrival Bryan Leon has made an excellent start to life for the Brazilians and scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the first leg of this tie, despite his side having just seven attempts at goal and only two shots on target. 

That victory brought an end to ES Tunis' 14-game unbeaten run at home in the competition and was only Masandawana’s second ever victory on the road in the knockout stages of the CAFCL in 19 matches, with the previous win coming against CR Belouizdad in 2022-23. 

Mkachkha are up against it now, as history is against them. They have failed to progress from each of their three Champions League knockout ties when losing the first leg at home, once to Hearts of Oak (2000 final) and in two semi-finals against Al Ahly (2020-21 and 2022-23). 

Meanwhile, Masandawana will be optimistic about their chances of reaching the final this year, having only lost one of their last 18 knockout-stage home matches in the tournament (W8 D9) - albeit that defeat came against this very opponent back in 2023-24. 

 

Key Player Focus: Brayan Leon

Mamelodi Sundowns had an uncharacteristically average first half of the season, spending most of it below their customary spot at the top of the PSL standings, while only managing two wins in their six CAF Champions League group-stage matches.

However, South Africa’s perennial champions have enjoyed a resurgence of late, much of which can be attributed to a major improvement in their attack, which is now spearheaded by their winter signing from Independiente Medellin, Brayan Leon. 

The Colombian has given the Brazilians a proper threat up top and has netted five goals in 10 PSL matches and four goals in his last four CAFCL matches. He is now the first Downs player to score four times in this competition since Peter Shalulile and Cassius Maiula in 2022-23. 

Leon’s winner against ES Tunis last week earned the Goal of the Day award for the first leg of the semi-finals, while he is also in contention for the Goal of the Season in the PSL for his strike against Chippa United, which came within minutes of coming off the bench earlier this month.