Latest news with #TotalEnergiesCAFCL
Yalla kora
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yalla kora
تتويج بيراميدز بطلا لدوري أبطال أفريقيا للمرة الأولى في تاريخه
🥇 ℂ𝔸𝔽ℂ𝕃 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕡𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 🥇 𝙿𝚢𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚍𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺/𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻 𝚃𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚕𝙴𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝙲𝙰𝙵 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝙻𝚎𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜! #SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesCAFCL — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 1, 2025
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Cardoso lauds Sundowns players' commitment despite Caf final defeat
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has urged his players not to despair after their Caf Champions League final defeat against Pyramids, as he believes they will come back stronger and be better next season. Sundowns lost 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids after their 2-1 second leg defeat at June 30 Air Defence Stadium in Cairo on Sunday. The Egyptian club claimed their first continental title after goals by Fiston Mayele and Ahmed Saad either side of the half delivered the trophy to them. Iqraam Rayners pulled one back late in the second half, but despite Sundowns throwing everything they had to try to find an equaliser that would have seen them win the final on away goals, it was not to be. 'That we are not happy does not mean I am not proud of everything we did until the moment we arrived in this final,' Cardoso said. ☹️ 𝔻𝕀𝕊𝕊𝔸ℙ𝕆𝕀ℕ𝕋𝔼𝔻 ☹️ 🗣️ "𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥" Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso reflecting on their loss in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL final against Pyramids! #SABCSportFootball — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 2, 2025 'Something was missed to be at the level we needed to win. What I feel is in some moments we did not find the way to compete at the level we should have to win the trophy.' Sundowns went into the second leg on the back foot after conceding an away goal at home in the dying seconds to draw 1-1 at Loftus two Saturdays ago. The Brazilians needed to score, but Pyramids showed their intentions by scoring two goals before Downs could get on the score sheet. Cardoso lauded his side's character, though they just could not get that decisive equaliser. 'Throughout the tournament our players were able to show commitment and great attitude. Guiding them to the final makes me proud. 'The feeling when you play the final and don't win is bitter. I have a wonderful group of men in the locker room who are suffering. ⏪ 🅸🅲🆈🅼🅸 ⏪ Pyramids were crowned the 2024/2025 #TotalEnergiesCAFCL Champions following their 2⃣➖1⃣ victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2nd leg! #SABCSportFootball — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 2, 2025 'We still have a lot to do. What is important is to go back and settle in the objective and that we can repeat the opportunity of playing again a final and be better than we were.' Cardoso defended his decision not to field veteran Themba Zwane — Downs and Bafana Bafana's best creative attacker of the past 10 years, who returned from injury in the weeks before the final — in both legs. Many have questioned whether the 35-year-old might have made a difference, given his experience and big match temperament. 'It's not time to speak about individual performances of players. This group has a lot of quality players and Themba is one of them. 'It's not a matter of accepting that we lost but a matter of accepting we didn't play at a level we should have played in the first three parts of the game.' Masandawana now shift their focus to the Fifa Club World Cup which starts in the US on June 14.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
And so the courting continues . . . Mamelodi Sundowns spurned again as CAF glory slips through their fingers
Mamelodi Sundowns lost the CAF Champions League final 3-2 on aggregate on Sunday night to Pyramids. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix The flirting game must continue unabated for Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians must keep courting the CAF Champions League – as their former coach Rulani Mokwena once suggested – until the belle of continental football agrees to walk down the aisle. She agreed to the lobola negotiations this time around, but the uncles baulked at the offer for their niece, leaving Sundowns to return home and strategise once more. It is a painful way to be rejected, but they'll be encouraged by the fact that they were at least allowed through the gate. 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 ✕ Ad loading Sundowns' 3–2 aggregate defeat by Pyramids FC in the final of Africa's premier club competition will have stung more than previous near-misses, which saw them knocked out in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. This will surely feel even more painful than that 4–1 defeat to Al Ahly back in 2001, when they were thoroughly played off the park in the second leg, having drawn 1–1 at home – just as was the case this time around. This defeat, as they will realise when they inspect the wreckage at June 30 Stadium, was largely self-inflicted. The opening goal they conceded was a gift – Grant Kekana, inexplicably, passed the ball to Fiston Mayele of all players, when a simple clearance would have sufficed. The Congolese forward is a supreme goal-poacher and, unsurprisingly, he made no mistake, slotting home his ninth of the campaign to claim the golden boot with ease. Even before the ball entered the Sundowns box, Mayele had been allowed to launch a dangerous move down the right and combine with Atto, who was then given ample space to deliver what appeared to be an innocuous cross – until Kekana's tame clearance turned it into a lethal assist. Being champions is a state of mind! Stay tuned for the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL champions official photoshoot! 🔜 — TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) June 1, 2025 Sundowns should have equalised before the break thanks to the genius of Lucas Ribeiro, who threaded a sublime through-ball to set up Tashreeq Matthews one-on-one with Mahmoud El Shenawy. But instead of lobbing the advancing goalkeeper, Matthews tried to slide it past him, only for the veteran – who was in the Zamalek team defeated by Sundowns in the 2016 final – to block with his outstretched left leg. It was more a miss than a save, and the reactions of Ribeiro and the Sundowns bench said it all – the Brazilian hopping madly as the bench ran off with hands on their heads in disbelief. Sundowns were made to pay early in the second half, as Sami made it 2–0. Once again, it was self-inflicted. Substitute Divine Lunga needlessly conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area, and his teammates defended the resulting set piece like Sunday league amateurs, allowing Sami a free header for his first goal of this year's Champions League. A lifelong dream, now a reality! 🤩 Pyramids FC radiate pure winners' energy as our #TotalEnergiesCAFCL champions! 🏆💙 — TotalEnergies CAFCL & CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) June 1, 2025
TimesLIVE
26-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Sundowns coach Cardoso deserves Coach of the Season award: Mngqithi
Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi says his successor at Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso, deserves to win the Betway Premiership Coach of the Season award. Mngqithi, who parted ways with Downs in December to make way for Cardoso, also tipped the Pretoria club's Brazilian star Lucas Ribeiro to make a clean sweep of the players' awards. Cardoso replaced Mngqithi at Chloorkop seven games into the Premiership. The Portuguese coach steered the Brazilians to their eighth league title on the trot, registering 18 wins with two defeats and one draw from 21 league outings. Ribeiro topped the league's scoring charts with 16 goals, two ahead of teammate Iqraam Rayners, who, according to Mngqithi, should be the closest challenger to the Brazilian. Listen to noise 🧏♂️ A packed Loftus is different, Lucas Ribeiro's goal had the whole stadium in a frenzy. #TotalEnergiesCAFCL | #SSDiski — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 26, 2025 'For me, I'd give it [Coach of the Season] to Cardoso because I think the team [Sundowns] has been strong,' Mngqithi, winner of the award with co-coach Rulani Mokwena in 2021-2022, said. 'The team has lost fewer matches [three] and has conceded less [just 13 goals] — they've also scored more than any other team [65 goals]. If you don't give it to him [Cardoso], why not? He deserves it. 'I think Lucas deserves it [Player of the Season]. Iqraam is also close, but in my opinion Lucas is probably at the top of the list to collect almost everything.' Last Tuesday, the league confirmed the postponement of the end-of-season awards. 𝐑𝐀𝐖 𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: This Sundowns fan was in disbelief as Walid Elkarti scored a crucial away goal for Pyramids seconds from the final whistle #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #SSDiski — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 25, 2025 'The PSL awards ceremony has traditionally been held in June. However, due to Sundowns' participation in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup [in the US in June and July] and the 2024-2025 Caf Champions League final [over last and the coming weekends], the league has decided to postpone this season's ceremony,' it said. 'The league will communicate the new date and further details of the awards ceremony [later].' Sundowns were held to a 1-1 draw by Egyptian side Pyramids FC in the Champions League final first leg at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with the second leg in Cairo on Sunday (7pm SA time). In the Club World Cup, the Tshwane giants are in Group F with German giants Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense of Brazil and South Korean side Ulsan. The Club World Cup starts on June 15 and concludes on July 13. Sundowns face Ulsan in their Group F opener at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando on June 18 and Dortmund in Cincinnati three days later. They wrap up their group phase campaign against Fluminense in Miami on June 25.
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mix of pride, sadness for Riveiro after Orlando Pirates CAF Champions League exit
Jose Riveiro Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro cut a dejected figure after the loss in Cairo. Photo: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media Image: ITUMELENG ENGLISH Independent Media Football is a cruel sport. And Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro learnt that the hard way after his team failed to reach the CAF Champions League final. Pirates lost 3-2 to Pyramids in the semi-final second leg in Cairo on Friday night – a result that sealed the tie after the 0-0 draw in the first leg. It was a daunting end of the road in Pirates' continental journey as they lost the only game they needed to win after an unbeaten campaign since the start. Pirates had enjoyed a dream run on the continent as they were close to beating two stones with one bird: win the crown for the first time since 1995, and bid Riveiro a perfect farewell. Yes, Pirates have never won the continental title in 30 years, while the last time they came close to achieving that feat, before Friday, was in 2013. And having lost that final 12 years ago to Al Ahly in Egypt, this season was about making up for lost ground – get their revenge in Cairo, and eventually go all the way. But it wasn't to be. This was despite the fact that youngsters Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota continue to enjoy their visits to North Africa after scoring the two goals against Pyramids. Riveiro had brought belief into this team, with Mofokeng, Nkota and Co defying the young ages to show vast maturity which made The Ghost to start believing yet again. The duo had already enjoyed being Pirates' best players in North Africa, making five goal contributions between them in the previous three visits this campaign. That's why one of the reasons Riveiro was justified in saying the result was cruel for his team, which punched above their weight this season. Riveiro said his words and showed he meant them. He cut an emotional figure deep in the bowels of the 30 June Stadium in his post-match press conference. He was stumbling with his words as he battled to easily construct sentences, while his red eyes told a story of a man that was doing his best to hold back the tears from streaming down his face. 'It's been second to none, honestly. We are out of the competition (Champions League) after losing our first match in the whole tournament,' Riveiro explained. 'A tough one to swallow, to digest. We will need a little bit of time, because I think it's a very cruel result.' ⏪ 🅸🅲🆈🅼🅸 ⏪ Orlando Pirates suffered a 3⃣➖2⃣ defeat in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL semifinal 2nd leg encounter against Pyramids in Cairo.#SABCSportFootball — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) April 26, 2025 Riveiro must have been truly taken aback by the outcome. He had overcome early jitters in his Pirates career to become one of the most revered coaches the club has ever had. As such, his last dance at the Buccaneers this season was set to be about going all out and winning an unprecedented quadruple, which included the Champions League title. That has become a bridge too far, though. But like most of the club's supporters, Riveiro believes they couldn't be prouder of their efforts. 'So, it's a mix of pride and sadness at the same time,' added the 49-year-old Vigo-born mentor in Cairo. 'But I guess it's a normal thing, and we're falling, we're getting out of the competition. 'But we do it in a good way, or in a way that we all have to feel proud about ourselves.' Pirates do not have time to sulk and moan around. They must quickly dust themselves off, and prepare for massive back-to-back Soweto derbies.
