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Miguel Cardoso & Jose Riveiro, GFXGOAL
Samuel Nkosi

How Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates can serve up Caf Champions League final we all want to see

Will Masandawana and the Buccaneers serve up the dream Champions League final every South African is wishing for?

The prospect of an all-South African CAF Champions League final has set pulses racing, with football enthusiasts eagerly hoping for a Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates showdown in the last match of the competition.

The prospect of these two local powerhouses clashing in the Champions League decider has sparked widespread excitement amongst the football fanatics who are anticipating the possibility of this mouth-watering match.

For many PSL football lovers, the Sundowns vs Pirates final in the Champions League would be a historic occasion, one that will not only showcase the impressive nature of SA football but also paint a vivid picture of how the two rivals established themselves as the top-performing teams on the African continent.

The possibility of The Brazilians and The Buccaneers meeting in the most prestigious continental club tournament would mark the first time ever that South African teams clashed in the final.

GOAL looks at the possibility of Sundowns and Pirates reaching Mzansi nirvana.

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  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    QUARTER-FINAL: SUNDOWNS VS ESPERANCE

    The Brazilians are gearing up to lock horns with the Tunisian giants in the highly anticipated quarter-final of the Champions League.

    Sundowns have put the Champions League as one of their highest priority in the current campaign after losing out in the semi-final last season.

    Interestingly, Masandawana were knocked out of the competition by Esperance, who were coached by the current Downs coach, Miguel Cardoso, in 2024.

    The Portuguese tactician joined the Chloorkop-based side in December 2024 after he had been sacked by the Red and Yellow following a poor start to the season.

    With Cardoso having insider intel on the Esperance players, Sundowns surely have an advantage of winning the two-legged quarter-final.

    The first will take place on the 1st of April at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, while the second-leg is scheduled for the 8th of April at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.

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  • Relebohile Mofokeng, Orlando PiratesBackpage

    QUARTER FINAL: PIRATES VS MC ALGER

    The Buccaneers will travel to Algeria to face MC Alger at the 5 July Stadium, aiming to make a big statement In the first-leg of the quarter-finals.

    Pirates finished the group stages of the Champions League without suffering a defeat after claiming four victories and playing to two draws.

    Their impressive form in the group stages has proven that the Soweto giants are one of the toughest sides to beat.

    The Ghost has already won two away matches against tough opposition in Egyptian giants Al Ahly and CR Belouizdad which puts them in an advantage to beat MC Alger and book a spot in the semi-final.

  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    SEMI-FINAL: SUNDOWNS VS AL AHLY

    Sundowns and Al Ahly, who have been regular features in the knockout stages, are on course to renew their rivalry in the semi-final.

    The last time the two clubs met was in the inaugural 2023 African Football League [AFL].

    Kabo Yellow won the semi-final 1-0 on aggregate and went on to lift the trophy after defeating Wydad Casablanca in the final.

    Before facing Sundowns, Al Ahly will have to overcome Sudanese side Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals.

    The 12-time Champions League winners have all the pedigree to claim a win against their quarter-final opponents and chase their 13th trophy.

    With Sundowns and Al Ahly boasting some of the most talented players on the African continent, Bafana Ba Style would come out victorious in the semi-final and play in the final for the first time since 2016.

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  • Fiston Mayele, PyramidsPyramids FC

    SEMI-FINAL: PIRATES VS PYRAMIDS FC

    Pyramids, who are currently leading the log in the Egyptian Premier League, have the advantage to walk away with a positive result against AS FAR in a fierce fight to book a place in the last four of tournament.

    In the group stages, Pyramids were clinical in front of goal after scoring 14 goals while their quarter-final opponents AS FAR netted eight goals. A win against the Moroccan side will see Pyramids face Orlando Pirates in the semi-final of the Champions League.

    Given the Sea Robbers' record on the road, the odds favours them to brush aside the Egyptian outfit and make it to the final.

  • Lucas Ribeiro, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    FINAL: SUNDOWNS VS PIRATES

    As the two teams navigate their respective paths to the final, fans are holding their breath and hoping that the dream showdown becomes a reality.

    South Africa would be treated to a truly unforgettable spectacle if the country's two in-form clubs were to battle it out for the most prestigious trophy on the continent.

    If the recent matchups between Sundowns and Pirates are anything to go by, the final between the two title-chasing sides would expose SA football to the world, giving an insight into the quality of the PSL product.

  • Al Ahly CAF Champions league 2024GettyImage

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