Onyango hails rising passion for CAF Champions League ahead of Sundowns, AS FAR clash

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Dennis Onyango has praised the growing enthusiasm surrounding the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, saying African supporters are playing a central role in elevating the prestige of the continent’s premier club competition.

The veteran shot-stopper made the remarks during an interview with CAFOnline at Sundowns’ training base in Johannesburg as the South African champions prepare for their first-leg semi-final showdown against Morocco’s AS FAR on Sunday, 17 May at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria.

A full house is expected for the high-stakes encounter, a sign of what Onyango describes as the competition’s renewed appeal and increasing respect across the continent.

The Ugandan international, a key member of the Sundowns squad that won the Champions League title in 2016, said fan culture has been instrumental in transforming the tournament’s profile.

“I really need to give credit to the supporters who have recently shown love for African football,” Onyango said. “When you go to the North, fans there show passion for the Champions League and value it because they know how much it changes players’ lives and the image of the club.”

He added that the tradition of celebrating continental success is still developing in some regions but is steadily growing.

“For me I think we took a bit long to understand the value of the Champions League. Winning it gives mileage to the club,” he noted.

Onyango also highlighted the increasing ambition among clubs across Africa, saying success in the competition demands significant investment and commitment.

“The mentality and ambition of the club is important because it requires a lot of sacrifice and deep pockets,” he said. “But clubs across Africa have realised this and it is now even showing with fans packing stadiums during Champions League matches.”

He stressed that continued progress will depend on stronger backing from club leadership alongside rising supporter engagement.

“I’m happy that our clubs have understood the value of the Champions League now as we see fans coming out in numbers across Africa,” Onyango said. “For us to come to the party and dominate as well, we need club presidents and chairmen investing more in preparations for the CAF Champions League.”

Sundowns head into Sunday’s clash aiming to take advantage of a strong home crowd as they push for a second continental title, nearly a decade after Onyango helped deliver their historic triumph in 2016.

Kick-off at Loftus Stadium is scheduled for 16:00 (14:00 GMT).