ANALYSIS: What Sundowns and African clubs can learn from Club World Cup

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup may be over for Africa, with Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance, and Wydad Casablanca all falling short of the knockout stages. But while the results didn’t go their way, the performances told a different story: one of resilience, growth, and undeniable potential.

In contrast, Brazilian clubs have once again shown they can challenge Europe’s dominance, proving that world-class football exists beyond the traditional powerhouses. For African teams, this tournament wasn’t just a test — it was a CLASSROOM.

This is the big league. Here’s what the continent’s top clubs can take from their Club World Cup experience.

START AND TRUST PROCESS EARLY

Ahead of a major tournament like the FIFA Club World Cup, stability in the technical team is crucial. However, African representatives - Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad Casablanca — all entered the competition with newly appointed coaches, and it showed.

Sundowns: Learning on the Job

Just before departing for the tournament, Sundowns lost the CAF Champions League final, a match that sparked criticism of new coach Miguel Cardoso. His decision to bench captain Themba Zwane, a proven big-game performer, raised eyebrows. The team, which had shown fluidity and dominance in the African Football League, suddenly looked disjointed. The coaching change disrupted their rhythm, forcing players to adapt to new ideas at the worst possible time.

Sundowns had shown signs of maturity and growth by winning the African Football League, a sign they had learned from past failures. But by changing coaches twice in a short span, they disrupted a process that was finally bearing fruit. The result? A team that once played with flair and confidence began scraping through matches, losing the identity that made them feared.

Wydad Casablanca: Tactical Confusion

Pep Guardiola offered a telling insight after Manchester City’s match against Wydad. He noted that City had prepared for a back-four setup, but Wydad started with a back five — a tactical surprise that initially gave City more space in midfield. Guardiola admitted Wydad improved when they switched back to a four-man defense. This inconsistency reflected a coach, Amine Benhachem, still figuring out his squad after replacing Rulani Mokwena.

Al Ahly: A New Era, Too Soon

Al Ahly also made a bold move, replacing Marcel Koller with José Riveiro from Orlando Pirates. While Riveiro is a respected tactician, he was clearly still in the process of understanding his new team. The timing of the change left little room for cohesion or tactical clarity.

In summary, had these teams stuck with the coaches who started the journey, they might have arrived at the Club World Cup more settled, cohesive, and competitive. As it stands, the new coaches looked like students thrown into a final exam, still studying the material while the test was already underway.

SQUAD MANAGEMENT

One of the biggest challenges in the CAF Champions League is the demanding travel schedule across the continent, which can be a logistical nightmare and physically draining for players. Add to that the congested domestic fixtures, and it becomes clear why managing player loads and trusting the full squad is essential.

At the FIFA Club World Cup, this issue came into sharp focus. Mamelodi Sundowns, for example, faced intense fixture congestion before arriving in the U.S., where high temperatures further tested their endurance. Signs of fatigue were evident, yet coach Miguel Cardoso opted to stick with the same starting XI that had just endured a physically and emotionally draining 4–3 loss to Borussia Dortmund.

In contrast, Fluminense refreshed their lineup for the Sundowns match, a move praised by analyst Phumudzo Manenzhe. The Brazilian side looked sharper and more composed, while Sundowns struggled to maintain intensity. Key players like Peter Shalulile, Mothobi Mvala, and Aubrey Modiba, who had been sidelined in the opening matches, could have injected fresh energy and tactical flexibility.

The same lesson applies to Al Ahly, who were cruising against Porto in their final group match before suffering a late collapse that ended in a draw. A more strategic use of their squad might have helped them secure a win and progress to the next round.

GAME MANAGEMENT

One of the key areas African teams — both men’s and women’s — must improve to compete at the highest level is game management. It’s not just about scoring goals, but about knowing how to protect a lead, control the tempo, and close out matches under pressure.

A prime example is Al Ahly’s match against FC Porto, leading 2–1 at halftime, Ahly conceded early in the second half, regained the lead almost immediately, but then allowed Porto to equalize again just minutes later. Even after scoring a fourth goal that looked like the winner, they failed to manage the game effectively and ended up drawing. This echoed a similar collapse under coach José Riveiro when his Orlando Pirates side let a comfortable lead slip in the CAF Champions League semifinal against Pyramids.

 The issue isn’t limited to men’s football. At the 2020 Olympics, Zambia’s women’s team overturned a 3–1 deficit to lead 4–3 against China, only to concede a late equalizer due to poor game management.

In contrast, European and South American teams excel in this area, they know when to slow the game down, make tactical fouls, and control the rhythm after scoring.

GAME OF MARGINS – NO ROOM FOR SMALL OR ERROR

The African four-pack are giants in their domestic leagues, often punishing opponents for errors but on the global stage, they were the ones punished, and it highlighted a crucial lesson: at the elite level there is no margin for error.

Take Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund, the Brazilians started brightly, scoring early and dominating possession. Yet, by halftime, they were trailing 3–1, not because Dortmund outplayed them, but because of unforced errors. Each goal was a gift, handed over through lapses in concentration and poor decision-making.

In their opening match, Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams became the first high-profile player penalized under FIFA’s new time-delay rule, conceding a corner for delaying kickoff while his team led 1–0 with under 10 minutes to play. Though Ulsan failed to capitalize, a stronger opponent might have turned that moment into a draw - or worse, a defeat.

Ironically, the second goalkeeper to suffer the same fate was Moroccan Yassine Bounou of Al Hilal and onne might have expected him to learn from Williams’ mistake, but again, the error occurred and fortunately without consequence.

These incidents underscore a vital point: new laws must be studied and understood, just as tactics are. Players must be educated, and teams must be prepared.

At this level, the margin for error is very small and can come with dire consequences. All these lesson can benefit other clubs in the continent and most importantly the national teams like Bafana Bafana.