Lazola Maku can join Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League campaign from group stage

Lazola Maku will be eligible to play for Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League once the group stages begin, after joining the club as a free agent.

The midfielder was confirmed as a Sundowns player today, strengthening a squad that already contains considerable quality in his position. However, he cannot feature in Friday’s second-leg preliminary-round match against Angolan side Wiliete.

Should Sundowns progress to the group phase, Maku can be registered and selected for their continental campaign.

Registration for the third round, which covers the group stages, opened on October 1 and will close at the end of the month. That gives Sundowns the opportunity to include their new youngster among the players available for the next stage of the competition.

The CAF Champions League group phase is expected to begin in November and run until the end of January in 2027.

Clubs must register players at least 72 hours before a match for them to be eligible to play. A maximum of 40 players can be registered by each club over the course of the season.

Maku faces strong competition to establish himself in the Sundowns side, particularly given the quality already available in midfield. His previous experience with junior national teams, however, includes success at significant continental and regional tournaments.

He won both the Cosafa U20 Youth Championships and the U/20 Africa Cup of Nations, achievements that have given him experience of competing at international level.

His arrival may also indicate that Sundowns are beginning to prepare for a future without Marcelo Allende. The midfielder has said that the current campaign will be his final season with the Tshwane giants.

For now, Maku must wait before making his debut for the club on the continent. His first opportunity to be involved in the CAF Champions League will come only if Sundowns overcome Wiliete and reach the group stages.