Amid a whirlwind of emotions and disappointment of crashing out of the Caf Champions League semifinal for the second season running, Mamelodi Sundowns will find consolation in qualifying for the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup and they are set to pocket a pay cheque worth R1-billion.
Despite that, Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena says booking a spot for the international Club World Cup is bittersweet as he would have wished to get there through winning the Champions League.
“Qualifying for the Club World Cup is bittersweet because you need to have won all the games in the group stages of the Champions League to give yourself a chance to be there,” Mokwena said after their defeat to Esperance of Tunisa.
“But the way we wanted to qualify for the Club World Cup was by winning the Champions League.”
Just by mere qualification and taking part in the extended Club World Cup tournament, every team is said to be smacked with R1-billion before any other match-related bonuses.
Sundowns have already pocketed a cool R75-million when they lifted the newly launched lucrative African Football League (AFL) last year.
Fifa is yet to officially announce the prize money for the Club World Cup, which will take place in the US next year.
