A dominant, but wasteful, Mamelodi Sundowns side secured a 1-0 first-leg advantage over AS FAR in the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Sunday evening.
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The South African champions will take a narrow lead into the second leg at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be in charge of the eagerly-anticipated encounter.
AS FAR, on the other hand, will rely on home advantage as they chase a second Champions League title following their 1985 triumph, while Sundowns — who have never won in Morocco — aim to claim their second after their 2016 success.
Sundowns take the advantage after the first leg of the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL final 👆🟡🔥#SSDiski | #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/Ou6DIw0V3f
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 17, 2026
The two teams showed real urgency in the final third, but neither side could convert their chances and both were guilty of giving away possession too cheaply in the opening exchanges.
It took something special to break the deadlock just before halftime.
Masandawana earned a free-kick just outside the visitors’ box after Tashreeq Matthews was fouled by Yunis Abdelhamid.
Aubrey Modiba curled a beautiful set-piece into the net, giving Sundowns a 1-0 lead at the break. His second goal of the season.
What a free-kick from Aubrey Modiba🔥⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) May 17, 2026
A stunning strike gives Masandawana the advantage 👆🟡
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCAFCL on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/qPfFHYnmbl
In the second half, after a VAR delay, the hosts dominated and created several clear-cut chances for a dominant Sundowns side.
Brayan Leon wasted two good opportunities, including a one-on-one with Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti in the 62nd minute.
Kutlwano Letlhaku also found himself one-on-one with Tagnaouti in the 65th minute, but the history-making 2022 Morocco World Cup goalkeeper produced a magnificent save to deny the 20-year-old winger from inside the box.
Pressure mounted on the visitors after Khuliso Mudau was fouled, resulting in a free-kick near their box.
Teboho Mokoena stepped up and beat Tagnaouti, but the post saved AS FAR in the 85th minute.
Sundowns held on for a 1-0 victory.
Sundowns (1) 1 (Modiba 37')
AS FAR 0
Sundowns: Williams, Cupido, Mokoena, Mudau, Ndamane, Modiba (Lunga 75'), Adams, Matthews (Sales 88'), Santos (Allende 79'), Leon (Mothiba 88'), Letlhaku (Saleng 74')
AS FAR: Tagnaouti, Bach, Abdelhamid, Loudni, Carneiro, Hrimat, Hadraf (Bouriga 75'), Ait-Ouarkhane, Hammoudah, Slim (Mbemba 65'), El Fahli