Sundowns Pursue $6.5 Million CAF Prize as Pirates End Eight‑Year League Run

TL;DR: Mamelodi Sundowns chase a record $6.5 million CAF prize while trying to end an eight‑year league title drought after Orlando Pirates won the South African Premiership. Coach Miguel Cardoso also seeks to avoid becoming the first manager to lose three straight CAF Champions League finals.

Context: Orlando Pirates clinched the 2024‑25 South African Premiership with a 2‑0 victory over Orbit College, ending Mamelodi Sundowns’ run of eight straight league titles. Sundowns finished the domestic season without a trophy, having lost the MTN8, Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout. The club now focuses on the CAF Champions League final against AS FAR Rabat, a match set to be broadcast in more than 100 countries.

Key Facts: Winning the CAF Champions League final awards a $6 million prize, the highest in CAF history, with an additional $500 000 available for winning the CAF Super Cup. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has lost the last two CAF Champions League finals (with Esperance in 2024 and Sundowns in 2023) and aims to avoid becoming the first coach to lose three consecutive finals since the competition began in 1964. No manager has achieved that dubious record in the tournament’s history.

Additional Context: The victors also secure a minimum $9.5 million payout as qualifiers for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup. Sundowns participated in the inaugural 2024 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, earning $12.5 million total – $9.5 million for participation, $2 million for defeating Ulsan of South Korea and $1 million for a draw with Fluminense of Brazil. Egyptian side Pyramids already qualified for the 2029 edition by beating Sundowns in the 2025 CAF Champions League final.

What It Means: A victory would give Sundowns a $6.5 million CAF bonus plus the $9.5 million Club World Cup qualification fee, substantially increasing annual revenue. It would also halt Cardoso’s personal streak of final losses and reinforce his standing among African coaches. A loss would leave the club trophyless for the season, intensify pressure on the technical staff, and affect budgeting for the next league campaign.

What to watch next: The second leg in Rabat on Sunday will decide whether Sundowns claim the historic prize and Super Cup eligibility, while the club’s board evaluates coaching performance and transfer plans for the 2025‑26 season.