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Mamelodi Sundowns 2024-25 Season Report Card 16-9
Dingizwe Gwala

Mamelodi Sundowns 2024/25 season review: From PSL dominance to choking at Magesi and Pyramids in Carling Knockout & Caf Champions League

The Brazilians should have won a treble in the 2024/25 season, but their coaches did not get their tactics right in two cup finals.

Mamelodi Sundowns once again proved their dominance in the Premier Soccer League, cruising to an eighth consecutive league title and extending their record haul to 15 trophies. Yet, despite their riches and star-studded squad, the club’s cup campaigns this season were a bitter disappointment. Sundowns stumbled in two major cup competitions, failing to deliver when it mattered most - a stark contrast to their usual winning formula.

Much of this can be traced back to new head coach Miguel Cardoso, whose arrival was marked by confidence that soon veered into arrogance. Unlike previous managers, Cardoso seemed determined to reinvent the Sundowns style, shaking up a system that had brought so much success. Unfortunately, this experiment backfired, disrupting the team’s rhythm and leaving fans questioning whether his bold approach was a step too far for the Masandawana machine.

Here, GOAL looks at the season that was for the Brazilians.

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  • Miguel Cardoso, Ronwen Williams and Khuliso Mudau, Mamelodi Sundowns Backpage

    League

    Was there ever any doubt? Sundowns have turned the PSL into their playground, snatching the last eight league titles. Sure, Orlando Pirates threw some punches, but the Buccaneers’ inconsistency under former coach Jose Riveiro meant they were never truly a threat to dethrone Masandawana.

    This season, Sundowns matched the PSL-era record of 73 points - a benchmark first set by Rhulani Mokwena last term. It is worth noting that the record came in a 28-game season, with Cardoso stepping up to manage 21 matches after Manqoba Mngqithi’s exit.

    Their firepower? Unmatched - 65 goals scored and a fortress-like defence, conceding only 12. It’s classic Sundowns - smooth, ruthless, and efficient in their piano and shoe-shine brand of football. The last campaign marked their 15th PSL title overall and an unprecedented eighth consecutive crown. The kings of South African football aren’t just ruling -they’re rewriting history.

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  • Magesi FC, Carling KnockoutBackpage

    Cups

    But if the league is their domain, cup competitions have been the stage for Sundowns’ rare stumbles. Take the Carling Knockout Cup final against minnows Magesi - a match many expected to be a stroll in the park for Sundowns. Instead, it turned into a nightmare. After taking the lead, Sundowns choked, and Magesi mounted a stunning comeback to snatch victory.

    That was embarrassing for a cub of Sundowns' statue to lose to Magesi. Next, the Nedbank Cup semi-finals saw Sundowns fall short once again - this time to their fierce rivals and eventual champions, Chiefs. Losing to Chiefs wouldn’t sting so much if it weren’t for the fact that Sundowns went in as overwhelming favourites against a Chiefs side struggling all season.

    However, the Caf Champions League was always the bigger fish to fry. And they lost to the Egyptian side, Pyramids FC - a blunder that many pin on Miguel Cardoso’s questionable tactics. We will get there later.

  • Arthur Sales, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    Transfers

    Sundowns’ scouting network in South America continues to pay dividends - just look at the impact of Brazilian striker Arthur Sales. The lanky forward took some time to settle, but once he did, he became a perfect fit, chipping in with eight league goals and as many assists. Easily the club’s standout signing this season. But it’s not all gold from the continent.

    Lucas Suarez has been a defensive disaster - three words sum it up: shambolic, shambolic, shambolic. The supposed hard rock in defense turned out to be a gaping hole, much to Sundowns’ detriment.

  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns Backpage

    Coach

    Now, back to how Cardoso sold the Champions League final. In the semi-finals against Pyramids, Sundowns held a slim lead in the first leg at home - until a late defensive lapse gifted Pyramids a crucial away goal. The second leg saw Pyramids win 2-1, knocking Sundowns out 3-2 on aggregate. Cardoso’s biggest misstep? Benching club captain and talisman Themba Zwane for both legs.

    Zwane is the heartbeat of Sundowns - a true game-changer whose presence on the pitch lifts the entire team. Instead, Cardoso gambled by starting off-form Lebo Mothiba, who hadn’t played competitively in over a year and a half. The gamble failed spectacularly.

  • Lucas Ribeiro, Mamelodi Sundowns, May 2025Backpage

    Best Player

    No debate here - Lucas Ribeiro is arguably PSL’s finest player this season. The Brazilian powerhouse netted 20 goals across all competitions and laid on 13 assists. He’s the front-runner for the PSL Footballer of the Season award and has already clinched the Golden Boot with 16 league goals.

    There’s been chatter about Bafana coach Hugo Broos calling him up for the national team, especially since Brazil overlooked him. Broos declined, but that doesn’t diminish Ribeiro’s brilliance or the threat he poses on any pitch.

  • Themba Zwane, Mamelodi SundownsBackpage

    What's Next?

    Next stop for Sundowns is the Fifa Club World Cup, where they’ve been drawn into the challenging Group F alongside Brazilian giants Fluminense, South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, and German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. Their campaign kicks off against the Asian champions on June 18, with Cardoso expected to unleash his strongest lineup.

    Crucially, this time club captain Zwane must be on that plane - and, fingers crossed, Cardoso will finally trust his captain instead of benching him like he did in the Champions League debacle. Cardoso faces a dilemma eerily similar to what Broos encountered when he first took over Bafana Bafana - sidelining Zwane only to admit he was wrong too late. The lesson? Trust the proven leaders. Cardoso needs to learn fast if Sundowns want to keep their crown as Africa’s finest.