Brian Mandela lifts inaugural continental title with Mamelodi Sundowns
13th November 2023
The Kenyan international was introduced late on to see out the historic victory.
- Sundowns had lost the first leg 2-1 but the second leg performance helped them claim their first African trophy since lifting the CAF Super Cup six years ago.
- It was their first success against Wydad in a knockout tie having lost twice to them in the semi-finals and once in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League from 2017.
- Success was worth four million dollars to Sundowns (circa 607 million Kenyan shillings) the equivalent of winning the South African league five times.
Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela added another title to his trophy cabinet as he formed part of the Mamelodi Sundowns side that claimed the inaugural edition of the African Football League after the South African side beat Morocco's Wydad Casablanca 3-2 on aggregate.
In a match where the Kenyan international made a cameo appearance after being introduced in the 89th minute, goals from Peter Shalulile and Aubrey Modiba helped Sundowns record a 2-0 win in Pretoria on
Sunday to win the inaugural African Football League.
Sundowns had lost the first leg 2-1 but the second leg performance helped them claim
their first African trophy since lifting the CAF Super Cup six years ago.
It was their first success against Wydad in a knockout tie
having lost twice to them in the semi-finals and once in the quarter-finals of
the CAF Champions League from 2017.
This was also the first time more than one goal separated
the clubs, with eight of the previous 13 meetings won by a one-goal margin and
the other five drawn.
Success was worth four million dollars to Sundowns (circa 607 million Kenyan shillings) the
equivalent of winning the South African league five times.
"I am so lucky to be in charge of this magnificent
group of players," said Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena.
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"My thanks to the yellow nation (Sundowns supporters)
for their wonderful support from the first minute to the last.
"It is difficult to talk now. This is a very emotional
time for me. There has been so much heartbreak after some previous matches
against Wydad. Now there is joy."
Recalled after missing Sundowns' previous five matches in
the competition, Namibia captain Shalulile broke the deadlock three minutes
into first-half added time.
Wydad goalkeeper Youssef el Motie parried a Teboho Mokoena
shot from the edge of the box and Shalulile reacted quickest to slam the ball
into the roof of the net.
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The goal finally gave the capacity 50,000 crowd, which
included the presidents of FIFA and CAF, Gianni Infantino and Patrice Motsepe,
something to cheer.
Numerous stoppages for injuries, overly physical challenges,
and time wasting by the Casablanca outfit combined to deliver an opening half
far below what was anticipated.
A wayward Wydad pass in their own half led to Sundowns'
scoring again eight minutes into the second half.
The ball was intercepted by Modiba, who eluded the
challenges of two Moroccans before lifting the ball over El Motie and into the
net.
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Needing to score at least once to force extra time, Wydad
became more adventurous and captain Ayoub el Amloud had a powerful header off a
corner saved by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Defender El Amloud, deputising as skipper for suspended
midfielder Yahya Jabrane, proved the biggest threat to Sundowns with another
header not far off target.
In previous rounds of the eight-club competition, Sundowns
beat Petro Luanda of Angola and record 11-time CAF Champions League winners Al
Ahly of Egypt.
CAF, who battled to secure sponsorship for the League, hope
to expand it to 24 clubs for the 2024-2025 season.
© Agence France-Presse