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Sundowns all set for ninth successive Champions League campaign

football24 November 2023 15:00| © Mzansi Football
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Mamelodi Sundowns © Gallo Images

On Sunday, Mamelodi Sundowns will begin an extraordinary ninth successive campaign in the African Champions League group phase, putting them alongside some other continental greats like Al Ahly of Egypt and Tunisia’s Esperance in terms of consistency.

They will be hosting rookies Nouadhibou of Mauritania at Loftus Versfeld in Group A and then also take on TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Pyramids of Egypt, who are also new to the group phase of the Champions League.

Sundowns have finished in the top two in the group standings in the last five editions of the competition and therefore got through to the quarterfinals.

Two season ago, the Brazilians amassed 16 out of a possible 18 points to set a new record for the group stage, which has been going since 1997.

That, however, did not prove enough to avoid a shock elimination in the quarterfinal at the hands of Angola’s Petro Atletico in a severe blow to the Pretoria club who have staked much on ensuring success in the continent’s top club competition but have had no return on investment since their win in 2016.

Last season they were again unbeaten in the group and finished top, ahead of Al Ahly of Egypt, but ended up being eliminated on the away goals rule by Wydad Casablanca in the semifinals, while Al Ahly went onto win the title yet again.

Overall, this will be Sundowns’ 11th participation in the group phase of the Champions League, far more than any other South African side.

Orlando Pirates have reached the group stage four times, but five other clubs, including Kaizer Chiefs, only once.

The group phase record of Sundowns, who have only once not got their group campaign off to a positive start, looks like this:

2000: Sundowns’ first group campaign saw them start positively with two wins and finish with an impressive 12-point haul but it was not enough for a place in the final as they were edged by Esperance.

Their downfall was a 6-1 loss at Africa Sports in the Ivory Coast which cost Clemens Westerhof his job.

In the early editions of the Champions League, there were eight competitors, divided into two groups of four with only the group winners advancing to the final.

2001: A semifinal round was introduced, meaning progress was extended to the top two finishers.

Sundowns failed to score in their first three group games and eventually only managed two goals in their six matches, but bizarrely it proved enough.

Home wins over TP Mazembe and Julius Berger in their last two home matches proved enough.

They were one point behind the Nigerian club going into the last game in Pretoria but Bennett Mnguni scored the only goal to see Sundowns through to the semis.

There, they edged Petro Atletico of Angola on penalties to reach the final, where they lost 4-1 on aggregate to Egyptian giants Al Ahly

2016: The unknown Idrissa Traore must hold a special place in Sundowns folklore.

He was the Mali import at AS Vita Club of DR Congo who was fielded in the early rounds despite suspension, a fact only discovered after the group places were decided.

The Congolese club were kicked out and Sundowns, who they had eliminated in the third round, took their place.

More good fortune poured on Pitso Mosimane’s team when Entente Setif supporters rioted after Sundowns led them 2-0 away and they were kicked out too.

But the Brazilians still had to get past Enyimba and Zamalek, who they beat 2-1 in Cairo to win the group.

After that followed a narrow win over Zesco United in the semis and a brilliant final triumph over Zamalek.

2017: As defending champions, Sundowns were expected to do better in the group phase but surprisingly struggled from onset when they were held at home by group rookies St George of Ethiopia.

They bounced back to then go to DR Congo and win there for a first time against AS Vita Club, who had beaten them in Kinshasa the previous year.

But the inconsistency of their campaign was then emphasised in their next game, a home loss to Esperance which left them scrambling for points in their final matches to finish in the runners-up berth place.

This was the first year that the group phase was expanded to 16 teams, and four groups, and a quarterfinal round introduced.

It was there that Sundowns’ defence came to an end, on penalties to Wydad Casablanca.

2018: On paper, this was the easiest group yet for Sundowns in any of their previous Champions League campaign and yet they botched it.

Wydad were expected to be their only struggle but they made heavy weather of beating rookies AS Togo-Port and went out when thy failed to win at home over Horoya on Guinea on the last matchday.

They had to win to finish second but proved unable to find the net.

2018-19: The format of the Champions League remained the same but the dates were changed from inside a calendar year to the August-May seasonal format, where is when most of the seasons in the major African football markets take place.

Sundowns started their campaign with a loss in Nigeria but recovered with home wins over Wydad and ASEC.

They also won convincingly at home against Lobi Star which meant they could afford to lose their last group game in Casablanca but still go through.

However, finishing runners-up meant a tough draw against Al Ahly of Egypt and they were given little chance, but the 5-0 win at Atteridgeville in the first leg of the quarterfinal remains one of the great days for South African football.

It made it even more disappointing that they then lost to Wydad in the semis.

2019-20: For the third successive group campaign, Sundowns were paired with Wydad Casablanca and for the first time they finished above them in the group.

For the first time, too, Sundowns finished the group unbeaten and with their highest points haul to date – 14 out of a possible 18.

They won all three home games without conceding and also won away at USMA in Algeria.

For all the promise, however, they came to stuttering stop in the quarterfinals as Al Ahly reminded them who was boss.

2020-21: Sundowns rumbled through the group in double quick time and with four successive victories were already qualified for the next phase, even though they still had two games left to complete their fixture list.

The Covid pandemic meant Chabab Belouizdad of Algeria had to host their home game against Sundowns in Dar-es-Salaam where the Brazilian won 5-1 – a record for them on the road in the group stage.

The Algerian government were not allowing South Africans into the country.

But they lost the return rubber at Loftus, taking their foot off the gas and spoiling their near-perfect run.

In the quarterfinals, they came up against ex-coach Pitso Mosimane and Al Ahly once again, going down 3-1 on aggregate.

2021-22: The Brazilians had two Sudanese clubs and perennial foe Al Ahly in their group and beat Al Hilal in their opening game with an early Themba Zwane strike.

Al Merreikh had to move their home games to Cairo because of their stadium being renovate so Sundowns traveled to the Egyptian capital for back to back games, drawing with Merreikh and then topping Al Ahly 1-0 with Thapelo Morena scoring.

Back home they beat Al Ahly 1-0 again in the return game and two more victories (scoring seven goals) saw them set a new record of 16 points in the group phase, with five wins out of six.

But it was a disaster in the last eight as they lost to Petro Atletico in Luanda and then were unable to turn around the aggregate score and went out like a limp biscuit.

2022-23: Sundowns began with a comfortable, yet unconvincing, 1-0 home win over Al Hilal of Sudan with Cassius Mailula scoring and then won four out of a possible six points on the road by beating CotonSport of Cameroon in Garoua and drawing 2-2 with Al Ahly in Cairo.

Sundowns led in the match behind closed doors but then had to come from 2-1 down with Morena, yet again, scoring 10 minutes from time.

The 5-2 win over Al Ahly in their fourth group game made sure of their progress and was another stunning example of Sundowns’ potential.

It was all going to plan as they crushed Chabab Belouizdad in the quarterfinals 5-2 on aggregate and the followed a hard-fought goalless draw with Wydad in the first leg of the semifinals.

But by conceding two goals at home in the return in another draw, Rulani Mokwena’s team were eliminated on the away goals rule.

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