Two Kenyan referees involved as Mamelodi Sundowns bag CAF Champions League title
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 25.05.26. | 07:21
The biggest moment of the second half arrived in the 74th minute when the hosts were awarded another penalty, with Williams redeeming himself with a big save
Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned CAF Champions League winners, for a second time in their history, after battling to a 1-1 draw against FAR Rabat in the second leg of the final in Morocco on Sunday night.
The South African giants sealed a 2-1 aggregate triumph at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium, having carried a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg played in Pretoria last week.
Despite intense pressure from the Moroccan side for large periods of the contest, Sundowns showed composure and resilience on a tense night in Rabat, with midfielder Teboho Mokoena and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams emerging as the heroes of the final.
FAR Rabat entered the decisive clash knowing they had to overturn the first-leg deficit and immediately took control of possession, urged on by a passionate home crowd.
The hosts constantly pushed bodies forward and delivered dangerous balls into the area, but Sundowns remained organised defensively.
The backline of Khuliso Mudau, Keanu Cupido, Khulumani Ndamane and Divine Lunga held firm in the opening exchanges, limiting the hosts to very few clear-cut opportunities despite sustained pressure.
Rabat captain Mohamed Hrimat had the home side’s first major chance when he rose to meet a cross inside the area, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Sundowns slowly grew into the game and nearly stunned the hosts midway through the first half when Tashreeq Matthews tried his luck from distance, only to see his shot drift narrowly wide.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 40th minute after a lengthy VAR review.
Referee Omar Artan pointed to the penalty spot after ruling that Lunga had fouled Reda Slim inside the box.
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Hrimat calmly stepped up and converted the spot-kick to hand FAR Rabat a 1-0 lead on the night and level the tie at 1-1 on aggregate, setting up a tense finish to the half.
However, Sundowns responded in dramatic fashion deep into first-half stoppage time.
Brayan Leon whipped in a dangerous delivery, which Matthews cleverly redirected into the path of Mokoena, and the midfielder produced a thunderous first-time strike that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar to silence the home crowd and restore Sundowns’ aggregate advantage.
The crucial goal shifted momentum back in favour of the visitors heading into the second half.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso responded to the mounting pressure by introducing Marcelo Allende for Kutlwano Letlhaku at the restart as the South Africans looked to regain control in midfield.
FAR Rabat continued to search for a way back into the contest, and Hrimat almost grabbed his second goal of the night when he headed narrowly wide from a corner.
The biggest moment of the second half arrived in the 74th minute when the hosts were awarded another penalty after VAR adjudged Williams to have fouled Youssef El Fahli inside the box.
Hrimat once again stepped forward, but this time Williams produced a stunning save to deny the Moroccan captain and preserve Sundowns’ lead on aggregate.
The save proved decisive and drained momentum from the home side, who struggled to recover afterwards.
Sundowns nearly added another goal moments later when Arthur Sales created an opening for Jayden Adams, but the midfielder dragged his effort wide.
Substitute Lebogang Mothiba also found the net late on, though his effort was ruled out for offside.
By the final whistle, Sundowns had done enough to survive the late pressure and secure another historic continental title.
Veteran Kenyan referee Peter Waweru served as the fourth official, while Stephen Yiembe was an assistant in the contest.
