Latest news with #CafChampionsLeague
The South African
26 minutes ago
- Sport
- The South African
FIVE dream signings to make Orlando Pirates champions of Africa
Orlando Pirates aren't far away from becoming a consistent force on the continent. They do, however, need a bit of surgery. Makhehlene Makhaula is still a highly effective defensive midfield operator, but Pirates might need a long-term contingency plan because he'll be 36 in November. Although it's an absurd suggestion, Pirates might need to make an audacious move for a player of Teboho Mokoena's calibre. Not Mokoena himself, but a domineering central midfield general to go alongside Thalente Mbatha, or free up Mbatha to get higher up the pitch more often. The Buccaneers have wrapped up the signing of Chippa United and Bafana midfield playmaker Sinoxolo Kwayiba. The 25-year-old is part of Hugo Broos' latest South Africa squad to contest friendlies in June. Kwayiba bagged six goals and an assist from 25 league appearances for the Chilli Boys this season. The Gqeherba-born star is in the latest Bafana squad. Sinoxolo Kwayiba celebrates a goal for Chippa United against Cape Town Spurs. Image: Football SA Although the Buccaneers are blessed with options at the sharp end with Tshegofatso Mabasa, Evidence Makgopa and Boitumelo Radiopane, they might be looking at a different style of number 9. Fiston Mayele is a popular name in the media, but will they go for a guy on the wrong side of 30, especially with a rumoured price tag of R12 million? What did Makgopa and Mabasa do to offend Hugo Broos? According to Soccer-Laduma , Orlando Pirates will soon seal a deal for Polokwane City right-back Thabang Matuludi. The same publication sounds less optimistic about their chances of snapping up Bafana winger Oswin Appollis. The 23-year-old reportedly has his heart set on Kaizer Chiefs. Is this a blessing in disguise for the Buccaneers? Broos explains why he likes Selepe for Bafana Can Pirates take the next step and claim Caf Champions League and Betway Premiership glory? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
14 hours ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Sundowns unable to scale Pyramids, as Egyptian club crowned kings of Africa
Mamelodi Sundowns were a goal from the glory of being crowned African champions again, but Pyramids FC hung on through a gut-clenching final 15 minutes of the final on Sunday night to lift the trophy as winners of the 2024-25 Caf Champions League trophy. The Egyptian outfit clinched their first Champions League title winning the second leg at Cairo's June 30 Air Defence Stadium 2-1 after earning a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld last week. Coach Miguel Cardoso's brave Sundowns, playing their first final since winning their first Champions League in 2016, were left to rue the fractional moments that decide matches at this level. Downs have to rue how agonisingly close they came. In Pretoria two Saturday's ago Walid El Karti's equaliser came seconds from the end. In Cairo, Downs had chances — particularly two saves from the legs of Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed El Shenawy — that could have won it. It was not to be. The chances that did find the back of the net settled 180 minutes and some added time of a spectacularly closely-contested final where the 3-2 aggregate scoreline to Pyramids said a lot of how tight the proceedings were. Fiston Mayele — Pyramids' excellent Democratic Republic of Congo striker, who looks set to be among the favourites for the Confederation of African Football's local-based player of the year award this year — has played a major part in them being such a force in the Champions League. Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurčić has had his side superbly drilled and Mayele as a huge presence as the spearhead. They had been particularly strong at home, scoring 32 goals and conceding six in seven matches at June 30 Stadium, so Downs were up against it. Mayele opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, profiting from Grant Kekana's defensive error. 🏆 ℂ𝔸𝔽 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕘𝕦𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 🏆 ⚽️ ⒼⓄⒶⓁ: The hosts have doubled their lead! 𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬 2⃣➖0⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 (𝗔𝗚𝗚: 3⃣➖1⃣) 📺 SABC Sport | SABC 3 🌐 📱 SABC+ #SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesCAFCL — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 1, 2025 From there, it was Sundowns' task to aim for an unanswered goal to take the tie to extra time and penalties, or two to win. They had an outstanding chance for that spurned by Tashreeq Matthews seconds before the break. Ahmed Samy made it 3-1 heading in a free-kick in the 56th, and Downs needed two unanswered goals to win. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back in the 75th. Downs could not find another, despite substitute Peter Shalulile coming excruciatingly close. In the opening half, Sundowns paid for being that minute margin loose that can be so costly at the rarefied level of a continental final and went behind from a defensive error. Had the bounce of the ball gone their way, the Brazilians could also have gone to the break level. A cleverly-worked free-kick from the middle by Downs saw Aubrey Modiba chip the ball short into the path of Rayners, who took the ball over his shoulder and volleyed high. At the other end a half-clearance fell to Ahmed Atef on the edge of the box to strike well, but too close to Williams, who took easily. 🏆 ℂ𝔸𝔽 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕘𝕦𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕝 🏆 ⚽️ ⒼⓄⒶⓁ: Masandawana have reduced the margin! 𝐏𝐲𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬 2⃣➖1⃣ 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 (𝗔𝗚𝗚: 3⃣➖2⃣) 🚨 LIVE 🥇 2nd Leg 📺 SABC Sport | SABC 3 📱 SABC+ #SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesCAFCL — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 1, 2025 Pyramids were flexing their muscle and Downs a margin stretched when the Pretoria team conceded. A ball upfield found Mayele on the right, who fed Atef to make ground and cross. Kekana's volley was mis-hit and straight into the path of the grateful Congolese, who needs no second invitation in such situations and picked his spot past Ronwen Williams. Six minutes into added time Lucas Ribeiro took a chip on his chest, turned and expertly fed the sharp run through of Matthews to be one-on-one with El Shenawy, somehow finding the keeper's legs. Sundowns pushed for an equaliser back from the change rooms. They had a decent video assistant referee check — looking to overturn Somalian referee Omar Artan's rejection of a penalty appeal for a push on Iqraam Rayners — overturned in the 51st. When those two good opportunities on either side of the break did not materialise in a goal, the situation seemed ripe for Pyramids to get a second. They did when, after Divine Lunga conceded a free-kick on Downs' left side, right-back Mohamed Chibi's delivery found centreback Samy free of marker Jayden Adams in the box to head past Williams at close range. As Downs sought two goals, Teboho Mokoena's free-kick tested El Shenawy. The Brazilians got one goal when Samy's headed clearance could only go as far as Rayners on the left of the box to volley past El Shenawy. With Sundowns piling on the pressure Ribeiro fed Shaluile who forced a superb stop off the legs of El Shenawy from point blank. Two minutes into a frenetic 10 minutes of added time, Mayele spooned over from in front of the goalmouth. The Egyptian club regained their composure to shut out the last eight minutes.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
History favours Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Champions League showdown against Pyramids FC
THERE are three reasons for Mamelodi Sundowns to be optimistic ahead of their Caf Champions League final second leg against Pyramids FC in Cairo on Sunday night. ONE - That's the number of times clubs who were held 1-1 in the first leg they hosted have gone on to win the continent's premier club competition. The South African champions were shell-shocked by a last-gasp equalizer from Walid El Khatari at Loftus Versfeld last weekend when they seemed to have given themselves an advantage towards adding a second star above their club's crest. While Pyramids celebrated that result as though they'd already been crowned champions, the reality is that the match is evenly-poised and Miguel Cardoso and his team have just as good a chance of winning as their hosts. And there is precedent to leave the Brazilians confident - they will return victorious and win their second continental title since they beat Zamalek in the self-same Cairo back in 2016. Since the inception of the competition way back in 1964, there have been six finals that produced a 1-1 draw in the first leg. And half of those have seen the away team victorious while the other went in the home team's favour. Asante Kotoko and Al Ahly (twice) have been crowned continental champions after being held 1-1 in their own backyard and it is those results that coach Miguel Cardoso and his men must draw inspiration from. Back in January of 1971, Kotoko saw their first half lead being cancelled out by the visitors shortly after the break at the Kumasi Stadium and their continental dreams were for all intents and purposes dead and buried. But they went to Kinshasa and managed a 2-1 victory – the winner coming ten minutes before the end - for the first of their two continental titles. Ahly were held 1-1 by Sfaxien in 2006 but their talismanic striker Mohamed Aboutreika who had scored in the opener in the first leg delivered the killer blow in injury time to hand The Red Devils the title in Tunis. Six years later Ahly were at it again in Tunis that time beating Esperance 2-1 after the Blood and Gold had held them 1-1 in Cairo. And they will be particularly chuffed that their opponents were losers in Cairo back in the 2001 final, Ahly beating the Brazilians 3-0 following a 1-1 draw at Loftus. There was also another South African defeat in the Egyptian capital in 2013, Pirates being beaten 2-0 by the Red Devils whom they'd held 1-1. Another home victory following a 1-1 draw was achieved by Wydad Casablanca against Ahly in 2017. Two - That history aside, Sundowns have also previously beaten Pyramids in their own backyard and that should see them trotting on to the pitch of the June 30 Stadium confident they will have their hands on the new trophy. The two clubs met in the group phase of last year's competition at the same venue and Sundowns won courtesy of a Teboho Mooena goal. The talismanic midfielder will once again be a key player as Sundowns seek to conquer the continent yet again with his thunderbolt shots from range and powerful free kicks can be crucial to help the South African team pierce Pyramids open. Striker Lucas Ribeiro scored in the first leg and will be brimming with confidence having won not only the South African golden boot but the Footballer of the Month award for May. Coach Cardoso was also adjudged the best for the month, factors that should work in Sundowns' favour. Three - Ordinarily, having conceded at home is a disadvantage, but Sundowns have managed to score away to Esperance and Al AHly and should be able to do the same at Pyramids.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
History favours Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Champions League showdown against Pyramids FC
THERE are three reasons for Mamelodi Sundowns to be optimistic ahead of their Caf Champions League final second leg against Pyramids FC in Cairo on Sunday night. ONE - That's the number of times clubs who were held 1-1 in the first leg they hosted have gone on to win the continent's premier club competition. The South African champions were shell-shocked by a last-gasp equalizer from Walid El Khatari at Loftus Versfeld last weekend when they seemed to have given themselves an advantage towards adding a second star above their club's crest. While Pyramids celebrated that result as though they'd already been crowned champions, the reality is that the match is evenly-poised and Miguel Cardoso and his team have just as good a chance of winning as their hosts. And there is precedent to leave the Brazilians confident - they will return victorious and win their second continental title since they beat Zamalek in the self-same Cairo back in 2016. Since the inception of the competition way back in 1964, there have been six finals that produced a 1-1 draw in the first leg. And half of those have seen the away team victorious while the other went in the home team's favour. Asante Kotoko and Al Ahly (twice) have been crowned continental champions after being held 1-1 in their own backyard and it is those results that coach Miguel Cardoso and his men must draw inspiration from. Back in January of 1971, Kotoko saw their first half lead being cancelled out by the visitors shortly after the break at the Kumasi Stadium and their continental dreams were for all intents and purposes dead and buried. But they went to Kinshasa and managed a 2-1 victory – the winner coming ten minutes before the end - for the first of their two continental titles. Ahly were held 1-1 by Sfaxien in 2006 but their talismanic striker Mohamed Aboutreika who had scored in the opener in the first leg delivered the killer blow in injury time to hand The Red Devils the title in Tunis. Six years later Ahly were at it again in Tunis that time beating Esperance 2-1 after the Blood and Gold had held them 1-1 in Cairo. And they will be particularly chuffed that their opponents were losers in Cairo back in the 2001 final, Ahly beating the Brazilians 3-0 following a 1-1 draw at Loftus. There was also another South African defeat in the Egyptian capital in 2013, Pirates being beaten 2-0 by the Red Devils whom they'd held 1-1. Another home victory following a 1-1 draw was achieved by Wydad Casablanca against Ahly in 2017. Two - That history aside, Sundowns have also previously beaten Pyramids in their own backyard and that should see them trotting on to the pitch of the June 30 Stadium confident they will have their hands on the new trophy. The two clubs met in the group phase of last year's competition at the same venue and Sundowns won courtesy of a Teboho Mooena goal. The talismanic midfielder will once again be a key player as Sundowns seek to conquer the continent yet again with his thunderbolt shots from range and powerful free kicks can be crucial to help the South African team pierce Pyramids open. Striker Lucas Ribeiro scored in the first leg and will be brimming with confidence having won not only the South African golden boot but the Footballer of the Month award for May. Coach Cardoso was also adjudged the best for the month, factors that should work in Sundowns' favour. Three - Ordinarily, having conceded at home is a disadvantage, but Sundowns have managed to score away to Esperance and Al AHly and should be able to do the same at Pyramids.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Five key players that can guide Mamelodi Sundowns to their Champions League dream
LUCAS Ribeiro leads the list of match winners for the Mamelodi Sundowns side that need to make sure to score in the Caf Champions League semi-final. | BackpagePix Image: BACKPAGEPIX Mamelodi Sundowns are preparing for what could be the most defining match in the club's illustrious history as they travel to Cairo to face Pyramids FC in the decisive second leg of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League final at the 30 June Stadium (kick-off 7pm). With the tie finely balanced following a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium last week, the Brazilians know the stakes couldn't be higher. Now needing to take the initiative away from home, head coach Miguel Cardoso will be leaning on several of his top performers to deliver when it matters most. Below, we highlight five pivotal players who has the mettle to lead Sundowns to their second CAF Champions League triumph. Grant Kekana ISITOBHA seMamelodi Sundowns, uGrant Kekana, sibalwa nabadlali leli qembu elizothembela kubona ukuqhubeka nokwenza kahle emqhudelwaneni iCaf Champions League Image: BACKPAGEPIX Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ A key figure in Sundowns' defensive unit, Kekana has been instrumental in both their domestic success and their progression to the Champions League final. The experienced center-back has displayed consistency and leadership throughout the campaign, but he will now face one of the sternest examinations of his career. Although Sundowns managed to win the majority of aerial duels in the first leg, they were undone by a single cross that found its way past the defense, resulting in a crucial away goal for Pyramids. With the Egyptian side known for their reliance on wide play and dangerous deliveries into the box, Kekana's positional awareness and command in the air will be vital in neutralising that threat. Iqraam Rayners MAMELODI Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners looking to add his name in Caf Champions League history. | BackpagePix Image: backpagePix Iqraam Rayners has been in impressive form in recent games, and his relentless desire to find the back of the net could exactly be the spark the visitors need to regain control in this high-stakes encounter. The Bafana Bafana forward has netted three goals in his last 10 outings, and with his team in a must-score situation to keep their Champions League dream alive, it will be essential for him to deliver one of his sharpest performances yet. Musa Lebusa UMusa Lebusa uthi iMamelodi Sundowns ikulungele ukuqubisana nePyramids emdlalweni weCAF Champions League emalanga ngoMgqibelo, eLoftus Stadium. Image: Facebook Musa Lebusa may not always get the headlines, but his contribution at the back has been invaluable for the Brazilians. A dependable and composed defender, his center-back partnership with Kekana has formed a solid foundation that nearly earned them a first-leg win— with only four minutes of added time separating them from carrying an advantage to Egypt. Now, with Pyramids' dangermen Fiston Mayele and first-leg goalscorer Walid El Karti set to be on full-on attack, Lebusa's task will be to maintain composure and execute with precision and help guide his side to as little goals as possible. Lucas Ribeiro Costa Lucas Ribeiro Costa of Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Golden Boot winner in the Betway Premiership and by a mile Sundowns' standout player this season, Lucas Ribeiro Costa has consistently delivered in key moments. His ability to rise to the occasion has been a driving force behind the team's league success, and Cardoso will be counting on him to produce a similar spark on Sunday. Costa's goal in the first leg has kept the tie alive, and with just 90 minutes separating Sundowns from making South African football history by becoming the first club to win the CAF Champions League twice, the spotlight will be firmly on him, and his creativity and finishing could very well be the difference. Jayden Adams UJayden Adams ngomnye wabadlali eza kuthembela kubo iMamelodi Sundowns xa idibana neAl Ahly emdlalweni weCAF Champions League emalanga namhlanje ePitoli. Image: Backpagepix
