Mamelodi Sundowns set sights on Intercontinental Cup return as Aubrey Modiba targets CAF Champions League defence

Mamelodi Sundowns are already looking beyond their latest international triumph, with Aubrey Modiba saying the club is motivated to defend their CAF Champions League title and earn another shot at the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.

The South African champions strengthened their reputation on the global stage on Saturday when they defeated Al-Ahli Saudi 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld to win the Fifa African-Asia-Pacific Cup.

The victory also secured Sundowns’ place in the next phase of the Fifa Intercontinental Cup, where they will meet the winner of the Derby of the Americas clash between Mexican side Toluca, the Concacaf Champions Cup holders, and the yet-to-be-crowned 2026 Conmebol Libertadores champions.

Modiba believes competing in major international tournaments is important for Sundowns and wants the club to maintain that presence by retaining their continental crown.

“I think for us it is important to participate in these tournaments because, as a team, we always want to do well in these tournaments, and I’m glad we managed to win,” Modiba told the media.

“Hopefully, we will compete in more of these tournaments in future as well, because if you win the Champions League you put yourself in a good place, so we have to make sure we defend our trophy in the continent and be back here again.”

Sundowns will also have further opportunities to compete on the international stage, with Modiba pointing to the CAF Super Cup and another Intercontinental Cup fixture as competitions where the club must continue performing.

“We still have the Super Cup and another match in the Intercontinental as well, so we have to make sure we always do well so we can participate in these kinds of games.”

Modiba highlights global exposure

The 31-year-old defender also believes Sundowns’ participation in the Intercontinental Cup is helping to raise the profile of African football while providing a platform for South African players to attract international attention.

The global reach of the tournament, according to Modiba, has allowed more viewers to see what African clubs and players can offer.

“I think it’s a great thing for people out there to know about our African football, especially South Africa. I don’t think many people are familiar with it, but with us participating in the World Cup, people know more about us now than before, and now is just to maintain that playing in these tournaments going forward,” he said.

“It feels great and exposes our talents as well. Now we have players making it abroad because they are being seen by other clubs.”

Mokoena wants PSG showdown

Midfielder Teboho Mokoena has set his sights on a meeting with European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final, insisting Sundowns have earned the right to compete at that level.

“We want to play against PSG now. I think we’ve set the standards and I think that’s where we deserve to be,” Mokoena told the club media department.

Before returning to their international commitments, Sundowns will turn their attention to domestic football, with Orlando Pirates awaiting them in the MTN8 final on October 10 following the international break.