- Sundowns and AS FAR Set for Tactical Showdown in CAF Champions League Final
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroccan powerhouse AS FAR will renew their growing continental rivalry on Sunday when they meet in the first leg of the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The fixture brings together two former African champions chasing continental glory once again, in a final that carries tactical intrigue, historical weight and significant financial reward.
Sundowns are seeking their second CAF Champions League title after their famous 2016 triumph, while AS FAR are chasing their first crown since 1985, when they became the first Moroccan club to win Africa’s premier club competition.
With a record US$6 million prize awaiting the winners, the stakes could hardly be higher. The first leg in Pretoria may not decide the final outright, but it could shape the psychology and tactical complexion of the return fixture in Rabat next week.
The two finalists are already familiar opponents. They met in last season’s group stage, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws, a sign of how little separates the sides heading into Sunday’s encounter.
Sundowns enter the final with strong home form and attacking rhythm. The South African champions are unbeaten in their last eight home matches against Moroccan opposition in the CAF Champions League, recording four wins and four draws.
They are also unbeaten at home across the last two Champions League seasons, winning six and drawing five of their 11 matches. That home resilience gives them a clear platform as they attempt to take an advantage to Morocco.
Coach Miguel Cardoso was brought in to restore continental dominance and has guided Sundowns to another final, even if defensive concerns have complicated preparations.
The Brazilians have conceded seven goals in their last two matches in all competitions, an uncomfortable statistic for a team entering the biggest fixture of its season. Injuries and suspensions have also affected the defensive structure, with Keanu Cupido doubtful and Grant Kekana suspended.
Those absences could matter against an AS FAR side that may not dominate possession but can punish lapses quickly in transition.
Still, Sundowns remain one of the most dangerous attacking teams on the continent.
Colombian striker Brayan León has scored five of the club’s last seven Champions League goals and has found the net in each of his last four starts in the competition. His form gives Sundowns a decisive edge in the final third, especially if they can create sustained pressure around the AS FAR box.
Sundowns’ attacking strength is not only about individual quality. It is also about method.
They have scored six goals from build-up sequences involving 10 or more passes this season — three times more than all other teams combined in the competition. That statistic underlines their identity: patient possession, controlled progression, positional rotation and the ability to wear opponents down through sustained passing phases.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena has been central to that approach. He leads the competition in open-play shot-ending sequences with 42, highlighting his importance not only as a ball-winner and controller, but also as a key creative outlet in Sundowns’ attacking structure.
AS FAR, however, arrive in Pretoria with a very different strength. The Moroccan side have conceded just five goals in 10 Champions League matches this season, the best defensive record of any team in the tournament. That defensive solidity has become the foundation of their run to the final.
Portuguese coach Alexandre Santos has transformed the Rabat-based club into a tactically disciplined side, comfortable defending without the ball and dangerous when space opens up on the counterattack. Their semi-final victory over RS Berkane showed resilience, structure and a willingness to absorb pressure before striking at critical moments.
Goalkeeper Ahmed Tagnaouti has also been central to AS FAR’s campaign. He has made 25 saves and prevented an estimated 4.6 goals, the highest figure among goalkeepers in this season’s Champions League. In a tight final, his performance could again prove decisive.
AS FAR’s defensive record is even more impressive in first halves. They are yet to concede a first-half goal in this season’s competition, a sign of their concentration and ability to manage the early pressure in big matches. But there is a weakness Sundowns will look to exploit: AS FAR’s away form.
The Moroccan side have won just two of their last 12 away matches in the competition and have failed to score in four of their last five on the road. That record raises the central question of the first leg: can AS FAR survive Pretoria with the tie still balanced, or will Sundowns’ home pressure finally break them?
Sunday’s final is therefore likely to be shaped by contrasting tactical approaches.
Sundowns will be expected to dominate possession, stretch the pitch through attacking width and use their passing game to create openings. AS FAR are likely to remain compact, deny central spaces and look for quick transitions when Sundowns lose the ball.
The first goal could be crucial. If Sundowns score early, they may force AS FAR out of their defensive shell. If the Moroccans keep the game goalless deep into the second half, the pressure could shift onto the hosts.
For Sundowns, victory in Pretoria would move them closer to reclaiming their place at the top of African club football. It would also strengthen their claim as the most consistent force in modern South African football.
For AS FAR, a positive result away from home would put them within reach of a historic second continental crown and another major moment for Moroccan football.
The final also continues a broader continental story: North African tactical discipline against Southern African possession football; Moroccan resilience against South African control; defensive structure against attacking rhythm.
With two experienced squads, two ambitious Portuguese coaches and very little separating the teams on paper, Pretoria is set to host a compelling first chapter in the battle for Africa’s biggest club prize.
