Historic Rivalry with Moroccan Clubs
Mamelodi Sundowns are gearing up for an exhilarating CAF Champions League final against AS FAR, armed with a historically balanced record against Moroccan teams that hints at a closely contested match. The first leg of this compelling encounter will take place on May 17, with the return leg scheduled for a week later in Rabat. Since their initial confrontation with Moroccan opposition in CAF interclub competitions in 2017, the Sundowns have participated in a flurry of encounters, totaling 18 matches, including two previous meetings with AS FAR during the pool stages of last year’s tournament.
In these 18 encounters against Moroccan clubs, Sundowns have notched up five wins, suffered six defeats, and recorded seven draws. Their offensive and defensive statistics reveal an intriguing parity, with both sides having scored and conceded 14 goals, underscoring the competitive nature of their previous matches.
Recent Encounters and Competitive Edge
The most recent meetings between Sundowns and AS FAR occurred during the 2024/25 pool stages, providing both teams with ample material to strategize for this final. Their two encounters ended in draws, with the first match in Rabat showcasing Iqraam Rayners scoring for Sundowns midway through the second half, only for AS FAR’s Mohamed Hrimat to equalize. The subsequent fixture in Pretoria saw Peter Shalulile give Sundowns an early advantage, but El Amine Zouhzouh’s late equalizer meant both teams were left with a point each.
Historically, Sundowns have faced Moroccan teams in the Champions League 16 times, achieving four victories against five losses and seven draws, while scoring 11 goals and conceding 12. Notably, a majority of these games have been against Wydad Casablanca, while their meetings with AS FAR and Raja Casablanca have also contributed to their competitive record.
Although Sundowns boast an impressive home record against Moroccan opposition—never losing at home with five wins and four draws—they have faced challenges on North African soil, with no victories recorded in Morocco. Their nine away matches in North Africa yielded three draws and six defeats, with a total of three goals scored and nine conceded. This history emphasizes the importance of securing a lead in the first leg to take to Rabat for the return match.
In knockout competitions, Sundowns have only triumphed once in four encounters against Moroccan clubs, all of which have been against Wydad. Their past four knockout ties have seen them exit at varying stages, including a quarter-final loss in 2017 decided by penalties and a semi-final defeat in both the 2018/19 and 2022/23 seasons, where Wydad edged them out on aggregate. The lone successful two-legged tie for Sundowns came in the 2023 African Football League final, where they overcame Wydad despite an initial away loss.
With seven clean sheets recorded in their 18 encounters with Moroccan teams, Sundowns have equally faced their fair share of scoreless outings. Interestingly, both sides have found the net in only seven of these matches, indicating a tendency for tightly contested games. The most frequent outcome has been a narrow 1-0 loss for Sundowns, a scenario they have encountered four times. As the final approaches, the stakes couldn't be higher, with both teams aiming to break the historical patterns in this pivotal showdown.
As reported by flashscore.com.
