Peter Shalulile Eyes First CAF Champions League Title in Milestone Appearance
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile is poised to make his 50th appearance in continental club competition this Saturday, as the Tshwane giants host Egyptian outfit Pyramids FC in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (15:00). For the prolific Namibian forward, this match carries a dual significance — not only as a shot at his first Champions League crown but also as a personal career milestone that underlines his enduring impact at the club.
Shalulile, now completing his fifth season at Sundowns, has become a central figure in the club’s sustained domestic and continental dominance. Since arriving at Chloorkop, he has scored an impressive 101 goals across all competitions, earning his place among the club’s modern legends. Yet, the CAF Champions League remains the one major honour that has eluded him — until now.
Saturday’s clash will mark Shalulile’s 50th appearance in African continental club competitions, a testament to his consistency, fitness, and importance to the Sundowns setup. Over the course of his 49 appearances so far, the 31-year-old has netted 19 goals — a return that includes contributions in every Champions League campaign he has featured in since joining the club. He also made a brief but impactful appearance in the African Football League, scoring once in his lone outing.
Despite his remarkable goal tally, the Namibian hitman finds himself in the midst of a mini-drought. His last goal came on April 1 in the quarterfinal first-leg tie against Esperance. Since then, he has played six matches without scoring — a stretch he’ll be determined to end on the grandest stage of African club football.
Shalulile has built a reputation as one of the most reliable forwards in the PSL and on the continent, regularly hitting double-digit goal tallies each season. His numbers speak for themselves: season goal totals of 11, 15, 23, 30, 22, and now 19 show an elite level of output across all competitions.
As Sundowns prepare to travel to Cairo for the second leg on June 1, the club will be banking on their talisman to rise to the occasion and fire them to glory. His experience, movement, and tireless work rate remain critical to the team’s attacking structure — and his hunger to finally lift the Champions League trophy could be the driving force that propels the Brazilians to continental triumph.
For Peter Shalulile, Saturday isn’t just another game. It’s a career-defining opportunity — a shot at etching his name into African football history and securing the one piece of silverware that has so far remained just out of reach.
