Sundowns will now face the winner of the Derby of the Americas for a place in the Intercontinental Cup final against PSG.
Pretoria, South Africa (21 September 2026) – Mamelodi Sundowns are one step closer to a potential showdown with European champions Paris Saint-Germain after Nuno Santos’ two-goal performance secured a 2-1 win over Al Ahli in Pretoria.
The Brazilian-born Portuguese winger headed the African champions in front after just 17 minutes, rising to meet a Teboho Mokoena cross and sending the ball beyond Al Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Al Ahli hit back almost immediately when Ivan Toney’s low cross caused problems for Ronwen Williams, with the ball eventually ending up in the Sundowns net as an own goal. The visitors threatened again before half-time, but Sundowns survived the pressure and continued searching for the winner. That moment arrived in the 80th minute.
Debutant Thabang Matuludi delivered a cross into the box, and Santos was there again, this time throwing himself at the ball to head home his second goal of the afternoon.
The 2-1 victory means Sundowns have won the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup and advanced to the Challenger Cup.
The next step will see them face the winner of the Derby of the Americas, which will feature Mexican champions Toluca and the eventual 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores winners.
Victory there would send Sundowns into the Intercontinental Cup final, where European champions Paris Saint-Germain await as the defending champions.
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