Mamelodi Sundowns edge Esperance to boost hopes of CAF Champions League final

Mamelodi Sundowns boosted their chances of reaching a second straight CAF Champions League final following a 1-0 win over Esperance in Tunis on Sunday.

Sundowns had to do it the hard way in front of a partisan and hostile crowd at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi with the hosts taking the game to them from the onset.

It was their Colombian star Brayan Leon who sealed the win as he continued with his impressive form since signing for the club in January this year.

Masandawana get the job done in Tunis after a massive away performance 💪

ES Tunis 0⃣➖1️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (51' León)#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #AreyengMasandawana pic.twitter.com/zJNU9GryYC

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 12, 2026

Sundowns should have been ahead in the 28^th minute when Thapelo Morena’s backheeled pass deflecting off an Esperance defender with the ball falling to Arthur Sales but the Brazilian saw his well-taken shot deflected over the bar.

Eight minutes later, Grant Kekana made a timely tackle when he went low to keep out French striker Florian Danho from having a shot at Ronwen Williams in the Sundowns goal as both teams went to the break goalless.

Leon gives Mamelodi Sundowns priceless lead

However, there were plenty of talking points after halftime as Divine Lunga nearly scored immediately upon resumption but Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said was equal to the task as he saved brilliantly after diving on his right.

The moment Sundowns were waiting for arrived in the 51^st minute when Jayden Adams picked out Morena with a beautiful pass on the right and the full-back crossed first time into the box where Leon was stationed.

The Colombian, in between the two centre-backs, reacted quickest to get his head onto the ball and head home from close range.

Twelve minutes later, Esperance thought they had scored the equaliser when Abubakar Diakite headed home after a mix-up from Sundowns at the back.

A cross was floated into the box and Williams came out to pick it only to collide with two players, one being Diakite and Sales the other, before he spilled the ball.

Red card for Kekana as PSL champions win

The Tunisians took advantage and returned it in the box where Diakita got the final touch for what appeared to be 1-1.

However, shortly after, the referee was summoned to the VAR monitor and after a check, he ruled the goal out and flashed a yellow card to Diakite for an elbow on Williams at the time the Sundowns goalkeeper was going for the aerial ball.

The game was end-to-end after this incident until the 84^th minute when Sundowns received a setback after Kekana was shown a straight red card for a dangerous kick in the face of an opponent.

Sundowns would play the final six minutes, plus 10 added on, with one man less but weathered the storm to take a giant 1-0 lead to the second leg in Pretoria next week.

Given the importance of an away goal, Sundowns can seal their place in the final for a second year running if they retain their 1-0 lead in the second leg on April 18.