Mamelodi Sundowns have written their name in the history books of African football as they became the first team to lift the prestigious trophy of the lucrative African Football League (AFL) on Sunday afternoon.
Sundowns outclassed Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco with a 2-0 scoreline (3-2 on aggregate) during their second leg final encounter at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium – thanks to goals from the returning lethal striker Peter Shalulile and Aubrey Modiba.
The yellow army understood the assignment and responded to the call as they came out in their utmost numbers and painted Loftus yellow – beating their drums like they never did before.
The stakes were at its utmost high, as coach Rulani Mokwena unleashed his goal scoring striking duo of Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Shalulile, who walked back straight into the lineup after spending some time on the sidelines through injury.
As expected, the home side took the game to the Moroccans from the onset, as they loaded the Wydad half in search of that early goal.
The visitors seemed comfortable to sit back and absorb the pressure and frustrated the Sundowns crowed even worse with their famous time wasting tactics.
However, the delaying tactics would backfire for the visitors, as the referee added a staggering 12th minutes of stoppage time and a tense Loftus crowed would erupted – thanks to a Shalulile rebound goal at the stroke of half-time, which took his side into the break all square at 2-2 on aggregate.
Going into the second half, the Moroccan giants had no choice but to open up and tried to get a goal that would boost their confidence and ultimately take the game to extra-time.
Their efforts were not enough as the Brazilians doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, when Modiba produced a cheeky and composed finish, dinking the ball over goalkeeper Youssef El Motie and took the boisterous fans into a frenzy.
Wydad tried to push for that one goal that would take the game to extra-time, but Masandawana held on.
They learnt their lesson from their previous Caf Champions League heartbreak as they marched on and itched their name on the AFL trophy.
