Mamelodi Sundowns are champions of Africa once more. The South African giants secured their second African Champions League title on Tuesday, holding AS FAR to a 1-1 draw in Rabat to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory in the final.

How the tie unfolded

Sundowns arrived in Morocco carrying a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg, courtesy of Aubrey Modiba's goal the previous Sunday. The home side levelled the tie in the 40th minute when Mohamed Hrimat converted from the penalty spot after Divine Lunga was adjudged to have fouled Reda Slim — a decision confirmed by the Video Assistant Referee following a pitch-side monitor review by Somalian referee Omar Artan.

The goal threatened to swing momentum firmly in AS FAR's favour, but Sundowns responded in stunning fashion deep into first-half stoppage time. A cross from Brayan Leon was flicked on by Tashreeq Matthews, and Teboho Mokoena crashed a right-footed half-volley in off the underside of the bar from 15 yards — a goal of the highest quality that restored his side's aggregate advantage.

Crucially, with away goals still counting in the African Champions League, Mokoena's strike meant AS FAR needed to score twice more to lift the trophy.

Williams the hero

The decisive moment of the second half came in the 77th minute. A VAR review determined that Ronwen Williams had spilled a shot from Ahmed Hammoudan and then brought down Youssef El Fahli as he scrambled for the loose ball — giving AS FAR a second penalty of the night and a lifeline in the tie.

Hrimat stepped up again, but Williams — who famously saved 4 penalties in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final shootout against Cape Verde — produced a magnificent dive to his left, diverting the effort over the bar with his left arm. The save was the turning point; AS FAR's hopes visibly deflated from that moment on.

Jalal-Eddine El Khfiyef fired over in the closing stages and Sundowns navigated eight minutes of added time to confirm the title in front of a rapidly emptying Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium — a 70,000-seat arena that had been close to capacity and full of hope at kick-off. AS FAR had not won African football's top club honour since 1985.

Record prize money and a Club World Cup berth

The triumph earns Sundowns a record $6 million (£4.49 million) in prize money and a place at the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup — a remarkable return for a club that suffered final heartbreak against Egyptian side Pyramids only last season.

The victory arrives one day after a domestic setback: Miguel Cardoso's side missed out on the South African league title to Orlando Pirates, ending an eight-year reign as champions of their country. On the continent, however, Sundowns stand alone — African Champions League winners for the first time since their maiden triumph in 2016.