Favourite Teams to Win CAF Champions League After Mamelodi Sundowns Qualify for Semi-finals
- Mamelodi Sundowns are one of the four teams to qualify for the CAF Champions League semi-finals from the quarter-final stage
- The Premier Soccer League giants defeated Stade Malien on aggregate to secure a place in the semis alongside three North African clubs
- A football analyst, while speaking exclusively to Briefly News, named the two favourite teams to win the competition this season, with Pyramids FC and Al Ahly eliminated
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The CAF Champions League is now in the semi-finals stage, with Mamelodi Sundowns, AS FAR Rabat, RS Berkane, and Esperance of Tunisia being the last four teams in the competition.
Source: Getty Images
The Brazilians secured a place in the semis after a 3-2 win on aggregate after winning the first leg of the tie 3-0 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday, March 13, 2026, while the second leg ended in a 2-0 win for the Malian giants on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Sundowns are hoping to qualify for the finals of the competition, which would make it two seasons in a row after they lost to Pyramids FC in the same stage last campaign.
Favourites to win CAF Champions League
Football analyst Uche Anuma, in an exclusive chat with Briefly News, has named the two favourite teams to win the CAF Champions League this season, with two contenders, Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, already out of the competition.
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"As I said, Al Ahly and Pyramids FC's elimination gives Mamelodi Sundowns a good chance to win the competition this season. Another favourite left in the tournament is RS Berkane," he said.
"RS Berkane have been consistent with their performance in the CAF competition recently. They won the Confederation Cup last season, and they are now in the semis of the Champions League."
Mamelodi Sundowns and North African counterparts
Mamelodi Sundowns are the only team left in the CAF Champions League that is not from North Africa, with two teams being from Morocco.
Anuma shared what the difference is between last season's Champions League and this year's tournament, with the Brazilians being the only team that reached this stage last season.
"This year's competition came with loads of surprises, and Sundowns were also lucky to have qualified for the semi-final. At this stage last season, it was South African clubs vs Egyptian clubs with Orlando Pirates reaching the semis but losing against eventual winners Pyramids FC," he added.
"North African clubs have always dominated the competition in recent years, and Sundowns have the chance to end their dominance this season, with a maximum of four games to go."
Source: Getty Images
The first leg of the semi-final is scheduled for 10 and 11 April 2026, while the second leg will come up a week later, with the final set to hold in May.
Cardoso slams PSL over Sundowns' treatment
Briefly News also reported that Miguel Cardoso called out PSL over the unfair treatment of Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of their game against Stade Malien.
The Portuguese tactician is not happy with the organisers of the PSL schedule, as they are still the only South African club participating in continental football this season.
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Source: Briefly News
