Mamelodi Sundowns Fall Short in CAF Champions League Final, Eyes Now on Club World Cup Redemption

Mamelodi Sundowns have once again come agonisingly close to continental glory, only to fall short when it mattered most. The Pretoria-based giants were defeated 2-1 by Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final in Cairo, sealing a 3-1 aggregate loss and extending their decade-long wait for another star on their badge.

Despite heading into the encounter with confidence and quality on their side, Sundowns were undone by fine margins. Pyramids’ goalkeeper pulled off a string of crucial saves, denying the Brazilians at critical moments and swinging momentum in favour of the home side. The defeat has left fans and pundits alike questioning what more needs to be done for the DStv Premiership champions to finally reclaim continental supremacy.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos was among those who weighed in on the result, urging the club to reflect deeply on their near-misses. “The goalkeeper of Pyramids saved two, three chances of Sundowns. But okay, those things are happening,” Broos told iDiski Times. “Maybe Sundowns have to look a little bit at what happened in the previous seasons. Since I’m here, they’ve played quarterfinals, semi-finals, finals — and every time, they don’t succeed. So maybe they have to change something or do something differently.”

He added, “It’s up to them now, but we can’t forget what they’ve done. We have to be proud as South Africans. Their performance still shows the strength of South African football.”

A major talking point after the loss was the continued exclusion of club captain Themba Zwane, who was left out of both legs of the final by head coach Miguel Cardoso. Zwane, one of Sundowns’ most influential figures over the past decade, has not started a match since returning from injury in April. The decision sparked backlash from supporters and drew questions from analysts, though Cardoso has yet to provide a full explanation.

Many believe that Zwane’s leadership and creativity were sorely missed in the high-stakes final, where Sundowns struggled to break down a disciplined Pyramids side despite controlling large spells of possession. With the FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon, there is growing pressure on Cardoso to reintegrate the veteran playmaker into the starting eleven.

Looking ahead, Sundowns will shift their focus to the global stage, where they are set to face South Korea’s Ulsan HD in their Club World Cup opener on June 18. A potential clash with European giants Borussia Dortmund or Brazilian champions Fluminense awaits, offering a new opportunity for redemption and international recognition.

As the dust settles on another disappointing CAF campaign, the big question remains: will Sundowns finally find the winning formula on the world stage, and can they learn from past heartbreaks to emerge stronger in future tournaments? One thing is certain — all eyes will be on Cardoso and his squad as they prepare for their next challenge.