Mamelodi Sundowns have become the first South African club to reach another new high after succeeding in reaching this year’s CAF Champions League final.
Sundowns will play the two-legged decider against Egyptian club Pyramids FC on May 24 and June 1.
If they win the Champions League this year, then they will play in the CAF Super Cup against either RS Berkane or Simba SC.
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The one-off match carries prize money of USD500 000 (approx. R9,27 million) for the winners and USD250 000 (approx. R4,6 million) for the runners-up.
So, beyond aiming for their second continental title this year, Sundowns have since become the first South African club to surpass 200 games in CAF club competitions.
Since Mzansi’s readmission to international football, the Tshwane giants have played in all continental club competitions – the Champions League (formerly African Cup of Champions Clubs), CAF Confederation Cup, African Cup Winners’ Cup, CAF Super Cup, the CAF Cup, and the African Football League.
The CAF Cup was an annual competition for domestic league runners-up who will not have qualified for either of the then African Cup of Champions Clubs or African Cup Winners’ Cup.
It was discontinued when it was merged with the Cup Winners’ Cup upon the formation of the Confederation Cup in 2004.
The Brazilians made their debut appearance on the continent in 1994, playing in what was then the African Cup of Champions Clubs after having won the domestic league the previous year.
They faced off with Arsenal of Lesotho in the first round, winning 1-0 away in Maseru on February 20, 1994, before finishing off the job with a 4-1 win at home two weeks later for a 5-1 aggregate win.
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Sundowns reached 100 games in continental club football in 2017 and have since moved to 201 games, inclusive of the six they played in the AFL.
They are already guaranteed of playing Champions League football next season as they will finish either first or second in the Betway Premiership.
