Mzansi pride takes flight: Mamelodi Sundowns, Elias Mokwana, Thembinkosi Lorch & Co. set for Fifa Club World Cup spotlight

The pride of Pretoria is heading to America with one mission: to show that the PSL’s best can mix it with the world’s elite. 

The Brazilians have been drawn into Group F, alongside Fluminense, German giants Borussia Dortmund and Korea’s Ulsan. It’s a high-stakes group, but if any African team has the tactical depth and confidence to survive it, it’s Masandawana. Under Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, they’ve evolved into a side that balances flair and function, where crisp passing meets tactical pressing, and where South American stars like Lucas Ribeiro and Marcelo Allende blend with rising African talent.

This isn’t just a matchday moment. It’s a history-making journey. And as Sundowns line up against football royalty, they carry more than just yellow shirts; they carry generations of dreams and a future bursting with possibility.

When Elias Mokwana made the leap from Sekhukhune United to Esperance de Tunis, many called it a bold move. But it’s already paying off. The 25-year-old winger has been in blistering form in Tunisia, with his electric pace, fearless dribbling and knack for unlocking defences turning him into a fan favourite and a genuine weapon for Esperance.

Now, Mokwana steps into the global spotlight with a massive opportunity to prove himself against some of the best. Esperance are in Group D, up against Flamengo, Chelsea and Club Leon, a trio of clubs rich in pedigree and ambition. 

But Mokwana, never one to be intimidated, represents the unpredictable edge that Esperance may need to punch above their weight.

More than anything, his Club World Cup appearance will mark a turning point for South African players in North Africa. If Mokwana shines, he opens the door wider for future exports and continues to rewrite the narrative of South African footballers abroad.

There’s something poetic about seeing Thembinkosi Lorch and Cassius Mailula don the red of Wydad Casablanca. One is an experienced PSL baller with magic in his boots; the other, a young striker still carving his place in world football. Together, they form a thrilling South African duo in one of Morocco’s most iconic clubs.

Wydad have a challenging road ahead in Group G, where they’ll face Manchester City, Juventus and Al Ain. But with Lorch’s experience and technical craft, plus Mailula’s pace, movement and eye for goal, the Casablanca side will bring a different rhythm to the game, one steeped in Mzansi swagger.

For Lorch, this is a chance to revive and elevate his career on a grand scale. For Mailula, it's an early springboard into global relevance. And for South African fans, it’s a proud moment watching two contrasting talents unite under one badge, ready to silence the doubters and dazzle the world.

Few would have predicted that Jose Riveiro, who just a few months ago was orchestrating tactics for Orlando Pirates, would now be leading Africa’s most decorated club into their Club World Cup campaign. But here we are and he’s doing it with purpose.

At Al Ahly, Riveiro inherits a team brimming with experience, but he brings a fresh South African touch to the Egyptian powerhouse. Known for his methodical approach and high-press system, the Spaniard turned Pirates into a cup-winning machine. Now, he’s got an even bigger toolkit and far more global pressure.

Al Ahly are in Group A, alongside Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, Palmeiras of Brazil and Portuguese giants Benfica. It’s a footballing gauntlet. But if anyone knows how to weather the heat and outwit his opponents, it’s Riveiro. And while he may not wear the Mzansi badge on his chest, he carries a piece of our football philosophy into battle.

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