Mamelodi Sundowns in line for up to R117m from five competitions

Mamelodi Sundowns’ status as African champions could earn the club almost R120m before Christmas, with prize money available across domestic, continental and global competitions.

The biggest potential reward comes in the CAF Champions League, where winning the tournament would earn Sundowns USD6m, approximately R97m.

Miguel Cardoso’s side will enter the Champions League in the second qualifying round in October after receiving a bye. They will face the winners of the two-legged tie between Angolan club Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela SAD and Seychelles outfit Foresters Mont Fleuri FC.

Failure to reach the group stage would still bring a USD100,000 solidarity payment, worth about R1.62m.

If Sundowns progress to the group phase, which will be played from November to January, they are guaranteed at least USD700,000 (R11.3m). That is the minimum payment made by CAF to teams finishing third and fourth in their groups.

The competition’s later prize structure offers USD900,000 (R14.6m) for quarter-finalists, USD1.2m (R19.4m) for semi-finalists and USD2m (R32.3m) for the runners-up. The winners receive USD6m.

Sundowns also have the chance to collect substantial domestic prize money.

The MTN8 winners will receive R10m, while the losing finalists are guaranteed R1m. The final, scheduled for Saturday, 10 October, will be contested by either Sundowns or Golden Arrows against Orlando Pirates or Sekhukhune United.

In the Carling Knockout, which begins on 24 October and concludes with the final on 12 December, reaching the last 16 is expected to bring R550,000, based on the previous season’s payouts.

The quarter-finalists will earn R850,000, the semi-finalists R1.35m, the runners-up R2.85m and the winners R6.85m.

Another major opportunity comes in the CAF Super Cup, where Sundowns will meet Confederation Cup holders USM Alger in a one-off match on 8 November. The winners will receive USD500,000 (about R8.1m), while the losing side will collect USD250,000 (R4.1m).

Sundowns will also compete in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. They will begin against the winner of the match between Al Ahli Saudi FC and Auckland FC for the FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup on 19 September.

If they win that fixture, they will face the winners of the 2026 Copa Libertadores and the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup in the FIFA Challenger Cup. The Copa Libertadores final is scheduled for 28 November, while the CONCACAF Champions Cup winners will be Deportivo Toluca FC.

Victory in the Challenger Cup would send Sundowns into the Intercontinental Cup final against UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain. The winners of that match will receive USD5m, approximately R81m, while the runners-up will earn USD4m (R65m).

At least USD2m, estimated at about R32.4m, will be available to clubs that fail to reach the Intercontinental Cup final.

Overall, Sundowns could earn approximately R117m if they win the MTN8, CAF Champions League, CAF Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, while also reaching the Champions League group stage. The final total will depend on the rand’s value against the US dollar.

Their minimum guaranteed return is estimated at R39.7m. That outcome would involve failing to win the MTN8, CAF Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, missing out on the Champions League group stage and being eliminated in the first round of the Carling Knockout.