+18 | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
Cardoso, Mokwena and Mohafe GFXGOAL
Sthembiso Nkabinde

Miguel Cardoso off to bright start while Rhulani Mokwena & Elias Mokwana also impress! The biggest winners and losers from the weekend’s action!

Following an action-packed weekend of football in the PSL and Caf Champions League, GOAL runs through some of the biggest winners and losers.

A couple of South African teams were involved in continental football while others continued with normal business in the local league.

There were also some eye-catching performances from Mzansi players based abroad while others failed to impress.

In the PSL, SuperSport United moved up to the fifth spot on the league table after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Magesi FC on Saturday.

On the same day, Cape Town City also collected maximum points in their clash with Chippa United by the same margin.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu FC, who are led by former Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane and fellow co-coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi, continue to make steady progress as they beat Royal AM 2-1 on Friday.

Rhulani Mokwena’s Wydad AC were on fire in the Botola Pro League in Morocco as they eased past Jeunesse Sportive Soualem 3-0 on Saturday.

Here, GOAL shines the spotlight on the best performers while also taking a look at those who were unable to live up to expectations this weekend locally and around the world.

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
  • Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns, December 2024Mamelodi Sundowns

    WINNER: Miguel Cardoso

    The Portuguese coach got his Mamelodi Sundowns tenure off to a winning start after their 1-0 victory over Raja Casablanca on Sunday,

    Striker Iqraam Rayners scored the match's only goal in the 65th minute at Loftus Versfeld Stadium as Downs laboured to victory.

    Cardoso, who replaced Manqoba Mngqithi, will be pleased to have three points, although his side were less than impressive as far as performance is concerned.

    • Advertisement
  • Tshepo Makgopa, Magesi FC & Eva Nga Bienvenu, Chippa United, November 2024BackPagePix

    LOSER: Magesi FC

    The PSL newbies continue to endure a tough time in the league after they lost their fifth match of the campaign already, going down 1-0 to SuperSport United.

    The Carling Knockout champions might have had a dream run in the cup competition, but they have found the going much tougher in the league.

    They are rock bottom in the log standings with just six points from nine matches.

  • Cassius Mailula, Wydad AC, December 2024Wydad AC

    WINNER:  Cassius Mailula

    Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Cassius Mailula bagged two assists as his Wydad side beat JS Soualem 3-0 in a Botola Pro League match.

    The diminutive forward played a key role as Wydad boosted their hopes of qualifying for a Caf-Inter-club football competition.

    Mailula has been struggling to settle into life in Morocco after his move from MLS side Toronto FC, however, he finally appears to be finding his feet.

  • Jose Riveiro, Orlando PiratesBackpage

    LOSER: Jose Riveiro

    Pirates missed a golden chance to move up to seven points from three games in the Caf Champions League after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stade d’Abidjan at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny on Saturday evening.

    Riveiro, who has proven himself as a master tactician, is desperate to replicate his domestic cup heroics on a bigger stage in the Champions League.

    The Spaniard, though, is likely realizing that continental football requires a different approach from what his side has been showing in the league.

  • Rhulani Mokwena, Wydad Athletic ClubWydad AC

    WINNER: Rhulani Mokwena

    Rulani Mokwena’s Wydad Athletic Club confidently secured three points at home by defeating JS Soualem 3-0 in a Botola Pro League match.

    Oussama Zamraoui, El Mehdi Mubarak, and Bouna Amar all scored for the three-time Caf Champions League champions.

    The favourable outcome against Sportive Soualem at home propelled Wydad up to third spot in the Botola Pro League standings. 

    Mokwena's team is now unbeaten in five league matches. Overall, they have won six, drawn four matches, and experienced three losses in the league.

  • Elias Mokwana, Esperance de Tunis, November 2024Esperance de Tunis

    WINNER: Elias Mokwana   

    Mokwana was on the scoresheet for ES Tunis in their 2-0 win over Pyramids FC to move top of Group D in the Caf Champions League.

    The Tunisian side continued their fine form as they consolidated top spot with seven points after Youcef Belaili scored the opener with a sublime beauty before Mokwana rounded off the scoring.

    This was the Bafana Bafana international’s second tournament goal in the continent’s premier club competition.

  • Devin Titus & Athenkosi Mcaba, Stellenbosch FC, December 2024.Stellenbosch FC

    WINNER:  Stellenbosch FC

    Stellenbosch FC gained maximum points away from home by defeating CD Lunda Sul 1-0 in the Caf Confederation Cup group stage clash at the 11 de Novembro Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

    Devin Titus, who scored winning goals against Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in 2024, ensured that Stellies returned to South Africa with full points by netting the winning goal in the 89th minute.

    The positive outcome on the road in Angola propelled Stellenbosch to third place in the Caf Confederation Cup Group B standings after three matches.

  • Percy Tau, Al AhlyBackpage

    LOSER: Percy Tau

    Pachuca FC defeated Al Ahly 6-5 on penalties in the semi-final of the Fifa Intercontinental Cup to progress to the final in a match held at Stadium 974 on Saturday in Qatar.

    Bafana Bafana vice-captain Percy Tau was brought on in second-half stoppage time and he was unable to assist Al Ahly in achieving a win.

    The out-of-favour Ahly star successfully converted his penalty, although it did not aid the team in securing a positive outcome.