African champions Sundowns feted back home

Mamelodi Sundowns are the toast of South Africa after becoming only the second club from the country to ever win the African Champions League.

Sundowns lost 1-0 against Zamalek in Egypt on Sunday but triumphed 3-1 on aggregate as ‘the Brazilians’ raised their first continental title of any kind.

In addition to wining 1.5m dollars for claiming the trophy, the Pretoria-based side will also now represent Africa at December’s Fifa Club World Cup.

“To come to Egypt and raise the trophy, I don’t think there’s any sweeter way to lift it,” Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane told the Confederation of African Football website.

Mosimane, who coached South Africa’s national team from 2010 to 2012, is the first South African to lead a Champions League-winning side.

When Orlando Pirates won in 1995, the only previous time a South African team had triumphed, the Johannesburg side was led by a Scottish and Zambian coaching duo.

South Africa’s Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was in attendance at the game in Alexandria, and he believes Sundowns’ victory will inspire their league rivals to take the competition more seriously.

“It is important for southern …

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