Mamelodi Sundowns will square off against FAR Rabat in the highly anticipated final of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League, following their respective triumphs in the semi-final stages over the weekend.
The South African powerhouse comfortably dispatched Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis with a disciplined 1-0 victory in the second leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, thanks to another crucial strike from Colombian forward Brayan León.
This result completed a solid 2-0 aggregate success, sending Sundowns into the continental showpiece for the second consecutive season and marking their fourth appearance in the final overall.
On the other side, Morocco’s AS FAR Rabat advanced in dramatic fashion after navigating an all-Moroccan semi-final clash against RS Berkane. The Royal Army side had established a commanding 2-0 lead from the first leg in Rabat, with goals from Ahmed Hammoudan and Khalid Ait Ourkhan.
Although they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the return leg in Berkane—where Yassine Lebhiri converted a second-half penalty—the away goals or aggregate advantage proved sufficient, securing a 2-1 overall victory and a historic first-ever appearance in the CAF Champions League final for the club in its modern format. This milestone comes more than four decades after their sole previous continental triumph in the old African Cup of Champions Clubs back in 1985.
The two-legged final promises to be a fascinating encounter that pits Sundowns’ experience and consistency against FAR Rabat’s resurgence and home strength. The first leg is set for May 15, 2026, in South Africa, where Mamelodi Sundowns will host at their familiar Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, giving the “Brazilians” a significant opportunity to build an advantage in front of their passionate supporters.
The decisive second leg will follow on May 24, 2026, in Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where the atmosphere is expected to be electric as the hosts look to lift the trophy on home soil.
With a record prize money of six million dollars on offer for the winners, plus automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, both clubs will be fully motivated. Sundowns, under their Portuguese coach, have established themselves as one of Africa’s most reliable performers in recent years, boasting domestic dominance in South Africa and a growing continental pedigree.
Meanwhile, FAR Rabat, also led by a Portuguese manager, bring the rich footballing tradition of Moroccan clubs to the final and will be determined to claim their first title in the competition’s current incarnation. The tie sets up an intriguing tactical battle between two well-organized sides, with the away goals rule no longer in effect, meaning every match will carry maximum tension right until the end.
Fans across the continent are eagerly awaiting what should be a memorable climax to the 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign.