CAF Champions League: Mamelodi Sundowns pin hopes on red-hot striker Brayan Leon ahead of final first leg clash with AS FAR

Colombian forward Brayan Leon is emerging as a key figure for Mamelodi Sundowns as they prepare to face Moroccan side AS FAR Rabat in the CAF Champions League final first leg on Sunday.

The 25-year-old has made a decisive impact since his January arrival in Pretoria, scoring 11 goals in the South African Premiership and adding five more in the Champions League.

His continental contributions have been particularly influential, including match-winning strikes in both legs of the semifinal victory over Tunisian giants Esperance, four-time champions of Africa.

Leon heads into the final in blistering form, having scored a hat-trick and a brace in his last two domestic league outings, with another goal controversially ruled out.

Teammate Jayden Adams has been full of praise for the forward, highlighting his relentless work rate and physical presence.

“Brayan is a fighter. He reminds me of (former Sweden star Zlatan) Ibrahimovic the way he battles for every ball,” Adams said. “He presses constantly. Brayan can turn a bad pass into a good one. He adds quality to our team and is an incredible footballer.”

Beyond his influence in Sundowns’ push for a second continental crown, Leon is also in contention for the CAF Champions League Golden Boot.

His five goals place him joint second in the scoring charts, just one behind Cameroonian striker Taddeus Nkeng of Stade Malien and Egypt’s Mahmoud Trezeguet of Al Ahly.

Kick off for the much-anticipated clash has been scheduled for 14:00 GMT.