The goal scored by Teboho Mokoena for Mamelodi Sundowns not only won the CAF Champions League final, it could ultimately be worth up to $20 million (R327 million).
His unstoppable shot from inside the box in first-half added time earned Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-1 second-leg draw at FAR Rabat of Morocco on Sunday and a 2-1 overall triumph.
Record prize
Winning the marquee African club competition a second time earned Mamelodi Sundowns a record first prize of $6 million (R98 million) – up 50 percent from last season.
Mamelodi Sundowns now face USM Alger of Algeria, winners of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, in a one-off CAF Super Cup match worth $500 000 (R8.2 million) to the winners.
The match has been scheduled for October 31, most probably at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Being crowned African champions a second time, after defeating Egyptian outfit Zamalek 10 years ago, qualifies Mamelodi Sundowns for the 2029 Club World Cup, possibly in Morocco.
Mamelodi Sundowns pocketed $12.5 million (R204 million) from competing in the first edition last year in the United States, although eliminated after the group phase.
There was $9.5 million for qualifying, $2 million for beating Ulsan of South Korea and $1 million for drawing with Fluminense of Brazil.
A loss to Borussia Dortmund of Germany cost Mamelodi Sundowns a last-16 slot.
While an announcement about 2029 prize money is some way off, there will almost certainly be increases.
Mamelodi Sundowns are the second African qualifiers after 2025 CAF Champions League winners Pyramids of Egypt, who edged the South African side last season.
Huge relief
The spoils of victory do not end there for Mamelodi Sundowns.
They also qualify for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Pyramids collected $2 million by reaching the semi-final stage.
By overcoming FAR Rabat, Mamelodi Sundowns avoided becoming the fifth club after Etoile Sahel and Esperance of Tunisia, TP Engelbert (now Mazembe) from DR Congo and Al Ahly of Egypt to lose consecutive finals.
Success came as a huge relief to Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, who did not want to become the first coach to lose three straight CAF Champions League finals.
Cardoso, who turns 54 on Thursday, was unsuccessful with Esperance in 2024 and Mamelodi Sundowns last season.
Ahead of the second leg, Cardoso was under pressure having failed to win any of the four South African competitions this season, including the league.
Conquered Africa
Finishing second, one point behind Orlando Pirates, ended a run of eight straight championship titles for the Pretoria outfit.
Captained by national team goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Mamelodi Sundowns conquered Africa with a mix of local and imported stars.
National team coach Hugo Broos included nine of the squad, including Mokoena, in a preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Colombian Brayan Leon has scored 16 goals despite joining Mamelodi Sundowns only in January, Brazilian Arthur Sales is an option up front, and there is also Chilean midfielder Marcelo Allende.
Veteran Ugandan Denis Onyango is the reserve goalkeeper and Zimbabwean Divine Lunga competes with Aubrey Modiba, the first-leg match-winner, for the left-back spot.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
