Ten years ago, Sundowns did something no South African club had done in over two decades they were crowned champions of Africa. The last team to achieve the feat was Orlando Pirates in 1995.
Sundowns have one hand on the trophy after last Saturday’s 1-0 win in the first leg in Tshwane. As Masandawana prepare for the second leg in Rabat, it is worth revisiting their remarkable first African title in 2016.
The story did not begin with fanfare. Sundowns were initially eliminated by AS Vita Club in the qualifying rounds, but were reinstated after the Congolese side was found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. It was a second chance that nobody saw coming, and Pitso Mosimane‘s side grabbed it with both hands.
HOW SUNDOWNS OVERCAME ZAMALEK IN THE FIRST LEG
The first leg was played at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on 15 October 2016, and Sundowns put on a masterclass.
Goals from Anthony Laffor and Tebogo Langerman, plus an own goal, gave Masandawana a commanding 3-0 victory over Egyptian giants Zamalek.
The performance announced Sundowns as genuine continental giants. Not passengers lucky to be in a final, but a team built for the biggest stage. Denis Onyango was commanding in goal, Hlompho Kekana controlled midfield. And the attacking brilliance of Khama Billiat, Keagan Dolly and Leonardo Castro was simply too much for the Egyptians to handle.
THE NIGHT AFRICA FELL IN LOVE WITH KABO YELLOW
The second leg at the Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria on 23 October 2016 was always going to be hostile. Zamalek won 1-0 on the night through Stanley Ohawuchi, but it was nowhere near enough. Sundowns held firm to win 3-1 on aggregate and were crowned champions of Africa.
Khama Billiat captured the moment perfectly: “It was an amazing journey of ups and downs. Now we are the champions of Africa.”
Now, in 2026, Masandawana stand on the brink of a second star. The class of 2016 blazed the trail. The question is whether this generation can finish the job in Rabat.
