Mamelodi Sundowns will not participate in the CAF Champions League this season. The South African club was eliminated in the second preliminary round. They will undoubtedly be the biggest absentee from this competition!
It takes us back several years to find a defending champion eliminated before the group stage. Étoile du Sahel (Tunisia), Al Ahly (Egypt), and Raja Casablanca (Morocco) have all experienced similar disappointments.
This year, Mamelodi Sundowns joins the ranks of victorious clubs that have faced the same fate. After a goalless first leg, the Masandawana were held to a draw at Loftus Versfeld against Wiliete. This away goal will allow the Angolan club to qualify and will send shockwaves through African football.
Double African champion (2016 and 2026), Mamelodi Sundowns had recorded 10 consecutive participations in the CAF Champions League. This marks a significant setback for a team that reached the final in the last two editions.
