Share

Fairytale African triumph for Sundowns

Alexandria - Mamelodi Sundowns won a fairytale first CAF Champions League title on Sunday despite a 1-0 second-leg loss to Zamalek of Egypt in Alexandria.

As it happened: Zamalek v Mamelodi Sundowns

A Stanley Ohawuchi goal on 64 minutes was not enough for the home team as they trailed by three goals from the first leg in Pretoria last weekend and lost 3-1 on aggregate.

It was a remarkable triumph because the South Africans were eliminated in the final qualifying round in April only to be reinstated when their Democratic Republic of Congo opponents were disqualified.

Success for Sundowns made them $1.5 million richer and secured a place at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan during December.

"It was an amazing journey of ups and downs and now we are the champions of Africa," said Sundowns' Zimbabwe striker Khama Billiat.

"We look forward to Japan and facing the best clubs in the game. It is going to be an absolute pleasure."

Winger Keagan Dolly said: "We knew it was going to be difficult because Zamalek are a great team with some outstanding individuals.

"Some people will say we were lucky to get a second chance after being eliminated, but I believe we deserve to be African champions."

Goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy and captain and midfielder "Shikabala" were among those dropped as Zamalek coach Moamen Soliman made four changes from the side that started the first leg.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane had to make one enforced alteration with huge Ivorian centre-back Bangaly Soumahoro coming in for suspended Wayne Arendse.

Although facing a mammoth task, history offered a hope to Zamalek with two of three previous Champions League finalists in a similar predicament emerging as overall winners.

An estimated 60,000 predominantly Zamalek supporters were inside the 86,000-capacity Borg El Arab Stadium on the outskirts of Alexandria as the match kicked off.

There are few more nerve-inducing factors in African football than a large Egyptian crowd roaring on their team, but Sundowns calmly survived early pressure.

The first scoring chance for the hosts came after 12 minutes when Nigerian Ohawuchi burst through and beat goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, but the ball trickled wide.

Ugandan Onyango, a 2016 Africa-based Footballer of the Year finalist, needed medical attention three times before being replaced by Wayne Sandilands on 28 minutes.

Striker Basem Morsy had been headlined as the Zamalek dangerman, but recent signing Ohawuchi was posing a bigger threat.

A wild but crucial clearance from Soumahoro foiled another attempt by the Nigerian to break the deadlock before Sundowns began to threaten going forward.

The first serious chance for the South Africans came on 35 minutes when awarded a free-kick just outside the box, but captain Hlompho Kekana struck the ball into the wall.

Zamalek goalkeeper Mahmoud Abdel Rahim did well to push away a goal-bound shot from Percy Tau and a looping Billiat shot struck the top of the crossbar before flying wide. 

The injuries to Onyango meant eight minutes of first-half stoppage time during which Liberian Anthony Laffor troubled Zamalek twice with a shot and a header.

Half-time arrived with the second leg goalless and Sundowns retaining the three-goal advantage they established in Pretoria last weekend. 

Zamalek started the second half as they did the first, controlling possession and territory but rarely looking like cracking open Sundowns' defence. 

After 64 minutes the Egyptian outfit scored and it was no surprise that the goal came from livewire Ohawuchi.

Receiving possession well outside the box, he beat one man and unleashed a low, long-range drive that flew into the corner of the net off the left hand of Sandilands.

Line-ups:

Zamalek

Rahim, Khaled (Shikabala 76), Dweidar, Gabr, Yusuf, Hamed (Saleh 85), Tawfik (captain), Ohawuchi, Hefny (Mayuka 85), Fathy, Morsy

Substitutes: El-Shennawy, O. Salah, I. Salah, Gamal, A. Fathi, Shikabala, Mayuka

Sundowns

Onyango (Sandilands 28), Mbekile, Soumahoro, Nthethe, Langerman, Mabunda, Kekana (captain), Tau (Laffor 72), Billiat (S. Zwane 84), Laffor, Dolly

Substitutes: Sandilands, S.Zwane, Modise, Mohomi, T. Zwane, Mashaba, Madisha

List of CAF Champions League title-holders after Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa won the 2016 edition on Sunday:

8: Al Ahly (EGY)

5: TP Mazembe (COD), Zamalek (EGY)

3: Canon Yaounde (CMR), Hafia (GUI), Raja Casablanca (MAR)

2: JS Kabylie, Entente Setif (both ALG), Asante Kotoko (GHA), Enyimba (NGR), Esperance (TUN)

1: ASEC, Stade Abidjan (both CIV), Club Africain, Etoile Sahel (both TUN), FAR Rabat, Wydad Casablanca (both MAR), Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates (both RSA), Oryx Douala, Union Douala (both CMR), CARA (CGO), Hearts of Oak (GHA), Ismaily (EGY), Mouloudia Alger (ALG), V Club (COD)

Note: competition called African Cup of Champions Clubs until 1997 when prize money was introduced and quarter-finals were replaced by groups

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1122 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1290 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 1988 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE