Mamelodi Sundowns Advance to CAF Champions League Semifinals

Mamelodi Sundowns secured their spot in the CAF Champions League semifinals after a hard-fought 1-0 aggregate victory over Esperance de Tunis. The South African side held their North African opponents to a goalless draw in the second leg, building on their first-leg advantage.

Defensive Masterclass Seals Semifinal Berth

Entering Tuesday night’s clash in Rades with a 1-0 lead, Sundowns displayed tactical discipline to neutralize Esperance’s attacking threats. The Tunisian giants, playing before a packed stadium, pushed for an early breakthrough but found Sundowns’ defense impenetrable.

Marcelo Allende came closest to scoring for the visitors, rattling the crossbar with a spectacular long-range effort just before halftime. Esperance thought they had equalized in the 68th minute, but VAR correctly ruled the effort offside.

Key Moments and Heroic Saves

Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams emerged as the hero in stoppage time, making a crucial save from a dangerous free-kick to preserve the clean sheet. The South African champions expertly managed the game’s closing stages, frustrating Esperance’s desperate attacks.

Starting Lineups: Tactical Breakdown

Esperance de Tunis: Ben Said, Jelassi, Tka, Rodrigues, Sasse, Belaili, Bouchniba, Onuche, Tougai, Hamida, Konate

Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Suarez, Lunga, Allende, Mokoena, Adams, Ribeiro, Sales, Shalulile

What This Means for African Football

This victory marks another milestone for South African football in continental competition. Sundowns now join the elite semifinalists of Africa’s premier club tournament, continuing their quest for a second Champions League title.