With Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club set to reignite their fearsome rivalry in the second leg of the African Football League final this Sunday, we thought we would rewind to the Red Castle's last visit to Tshwane.
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No matter the outcome of this weekend's titanic fixture, history will be made. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in conjunction with FIFA, will crown the first-ever winner of the AFL. At stake is not only the opportunity to etch their names in the history books as inaugural winners, but also a chance to walk away with $4 million (R74.3 million). Fans can anticipate an enthralling match after the events of the first leg, and while Masandawana will be looking to take advantage of being at home in the return fixture, given what transpired the last time the two sides faced off at Loftus Versfeld, they will know to make that upper hand count as quickly as possible.
There might not have been $4 million up for grabs the last time the two African giants collided in the South African capital, but there was still a lot on the line as each side looked to book their place in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League final. While the Yellow Nation went into the match with a sixth successive league title already wrapped up, the Moroccan outfit went into the encounter with circumstances which were the polar opposite. There had been much flux within the club throughout the campaign and by the time the match with Sundowns came around, they were on their fifth manager of the season in Sven Vandenbroeck.
Wydad were not playing at their best throughout the campaign, but were still in contention to win a historic Botola Pro, Throne Cup and CAF Champions League treble. The Belgian tactician had won his first game in charge against SCC Mohammedia in the league and had managed to leave the first leg of the CAFCL semi-final with a 0-0 draw.
So, the script was written for the South African giants to progress to only their third-ever final, facing a team that was surrounded by instability, but it seems the north African giants did not read it. That afternoon at Loftus, instead of being greeted by a joyous Sundowns faithful, there was an air of angst that permeated from the ground. With each passing opportunity that Rulani Mokwena's charges squandered, the uneasiness at the stadium began to grow, but Themba Zwane was able to put the Masandawana fans at ease when he opened the scoring in the 50th minute.
Instead of pushing for a second, which would've been valuable given that the away goals rule still applies in CAF-regulated competition, the Botola Pro giants began to put pressure on the home team and it told as captain Yahya Jabrane assisted Ayoub El Amloud, who headed in the leveller in the 72nd minute. The Tshwane-based side needed another goal as the pre-existing fear reached new heights, but it dissipated seven minutes later when Peter Shalulile looked all but certain of ensuring his team's passage to the final with a left-footed finish. The crowd's momentary jubilation was quickly replaced by more nervousness as 11 minutes stood between Sundowns and a meeting Al Ahly in the final.
It seemed that the crowd's energy translated to the players unfortunately as, in the 88th minute, Ka Bo Yellow relinquished their lead once again courtesy of their very own player as Mothobi Mvala headed the ball past Ronwen Williams into his own net.
The match would end 2-2 and prolong Sundowns' ambitions of adding a second star to their crest, while Vandenbroeck masterminded the South Africa's elimination only two weeks after taking charge of the three-time competition winners. He would, however, fail to conquer Marcel Koller's Ahly in the final, and he would leave his post without any of the trophies that were on offer when he took the job.
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Hugo Broos' former assistant would lose out on the league title to his former team FAR Rabat, before being ousted from the Moroccan Throne Cup by bitter rivals Raja Club Athletic, who were led by former Orlando Pirates boss Josef Zinnbauer.
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