Sundowns face losing CAF top ranking after shock Champions League exit

Mamelodi Sundowns risk surrendering their position at the top of the CAF five-year rankings after their surprise early elimination from the Champions League.

Miguel Cardoso’s side will not feature in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition this season, ending a run of 11 consecutive appearances that included two Champions League titles.

The preliminary-round exit has already had a significant effect on Sundowns’ ranking points. They have fallen from 73 points to 51 in the rankings for the 2027/28 competitions and cannot increase that total during the current campaign.

That leaves the Tshwane club vulnerable to being overtaken by a number of teams still involved in either the Champions League or the Confederation Cup. All 13 clubs below Sundowns remain active in one of the two competitions, although the Confederation Cup carries slightly fewer ranking points.

The 10 teams immediately below Sundowns all retain a mathematical chance of moving above them.

Al Ahly, currently second, could rise to 67 points if they win the Confederation Cup, in which they are regarded as favourites. Third-placed RS Berkane and fourth-placed Esperance de Tunis can each reach 69 points, although that total would require them to win the Champions League.

USM Alger, who face Sundowns in the CAF Super Cup on Sunday, could climb to 62 points by successfully defending the Confederation Cup.

Rulani Mokwena’s Pyramids FC could reach 64 points if they win the Champions League. Mokwena has made an impressive start with the Egyptian club, who will be aiming to claim the continental title.

Zamalek, AS FAR Rabat, Al-Hilal, Simba and Young Africans are also capable of finishing above Sundowns in the rankings.

Orlando Pirates, by contrast, could only move to 42 points even if they were to win the Champions League.

How the CAF rankings are calculated

CAF’s ranking system uses results from the previous five years. It helps determine which member associations are permitted to enter two clubs in its competitions and is also used for club seeding before draws in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Teams earn points from the group stages, with results weighted according to the year in which they were achieved. Those totals are then multiplied by a coefficient for each year, with the most recent season receiving the greatest value.

The Champions League contributes more points to the ranking than the Confederation Cup.