The dream of a second CAF Champions League title slipped away for Mamelodi Sundowns this past weekend as they were defeated by Egyptian side Pyramids FC.
Despite the disappointment, the South African champions have returned home with a significant financial reward as the competition's runners-up.
Sundowns' Champions League campaign reached its conclusion with a 3-2 aggregate loss, sealed by a 2-1 defeat in the crucial second leg, which took place at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo.
The decisive return match saw Fiston Mayele break the deadlock in the 23rd minute. He expertly capitalized on a defensive miscue from Grant Kekana, who failed to adequately clear a cross and inadvertently provided Mayele with a clear opportunity in the box.
Pyramids then extended their lead early in the second half, with Ahmed Samy heading in a well-delivered free-kick from Mohamed Chibi.
This result followed a 1-1 stalemate in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where Walid El Karti's equalizer canceled out Lucas Ribeiro Costa's opening goal for Sundowns.
SUNDOWNS WERE AWARDED R35.8 MILLION AS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALISTS
For their commendable effort as runners-up, Sundowns earned a prize of R35.8 million, equivalent to $2 million. This substantial sum, while not the top prize, still represents a significant boost to their finances.
Had they managed to clinch the title, Masandawana would have secured a grand total of R71.6 million ($4 million), a lucrative sum that now belongs to the champions, Pyramids.
It's worth noting the historical context: when Sundowns famously won their first Champions League title in 2016, triumphing over Zamalek under the leadership of Pitso Mosimane, they were awarded R21 million ($1.5 million) less than what they just got.
In addition to their Champions League prize, Bafana Ba Style recently celebrated another triumph, securing R20 million in prize money for winning the Betway Premiership. This domestic league title marked their eighth in a row, underscoring their continued dominance within South African football.
Looking ahead, the Brazilians are now shifting their focus to the highly anticipated FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. Their group stage fixtures will see them kick off against Ulsan on June 18, followed by a challenging encounter with Borussia Dortmund on June 21, before concluding
