Modiba: Sundowns must defend CAF Champions League title to return to Intercontinental Cup

Mamelodi Sundowns full-back Aubrey Modiba says the club are determined to retain the CAF Champions League title after their victory over Al-Ahli Saudi secured another opportunity to compete on the global stage.

The Brazilians beat Al-Ahli Saudi 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to win the Fifa African-Asia-Pacific Cup. The result also took them through to the next round of the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.

Sundowns will face the winners of the derby of the Americas between Mexican club Toluca, the Concacaf Champions Cup holders, and the yet-to-be-crowned 2026 Conmebol Libertadores champions in the semi-final.

“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.

“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, 31, said the Fifa Intercontinental Cup had also increased global awareness of African football and provided greater exposure for Sundowns’ players. More than 200 countries watched the match against Al-Ahli Saudi.

“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.”

The midfielder Teboho Mokoena said Sundowns had set high standards and believed they deserved the chance to face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

“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 continental and international commitments, Sundowns will play Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on October 10, following the international break.