Kings of Africa again! Superb Sundowns add second star with final win against FAR

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · May 24, 2026 · 1045 words · By Marc Strydom

Club Legacy Sporting Achievement National Pride

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What to know about Club Legacy

A decade later, Mamelodi Sundowns are kings of Africa again.

Claims checked 15

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage

Left12%

Center88%

Right0%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

A decade later, Mamelodi Sundowns are kings of Africa again.

Why it matters

And what a deserved title that is for a side who have bashed at the door in the Champions League for that 10 years since their 2016 triumph, and were outstanding on the night drawing in Sunday night’s second leg of the 2025-26 final against AS FAR in Rabat.

Common ground

And excellent, too across both legs for a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Flag-Waving, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Club Legacy story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Coach Miguel Cardoso’s Brazilians... added to their 2016 success under Pitso Mosimane?
How does this story connect Club Legacy with Sporting Achievement over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2026-05-24-kings-of-africa-again-superb…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Flag-Waving 85% confidence

Exploiting patriotic or group feelings to justify or promote an action.

Why it matters: Recognizing flag-waving helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 15 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

schedule Pending 5

info Single Source 3

verified Verified By Reference 1

verified

Claim 1: “Coach Miguel Cardoso’s Brazilians... added to their 2016 success under Pitso Mosimane.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and cross-references confirm Mamelodi Sundowns won the CAF Champions League in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — they add a second star above the badge to go with the first earned in their 2016 triumph under Pitso Mosimane.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/sport/soccer/2026-04-12-win-in-tun…

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Claim 2: “They reached the last four semifinals and last two finals, narrowly losing 3-2 on aggregate to Egypt’s Pyramids last year.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 3: “Jayden Adams, Brayan León, Nuno Santos and Khulumani Ndamane are among arrivals in 2025-26”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 4: “Midfielder Mohamed Hrimat opened the scoring with a 40th-minute penalty”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific detail about Mohamed Hrimat scoring a 40th-minute penalty is only found in the Sowetan cross-reference; web search results for 'Mohamed Hrimat' returned irrelevant results about the Prophet Muhammad.

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web search NEUTRAL — Jul 20, 2009 · Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, is the man beloved by more than 1.2 billion Muslims. He is the man who taught us patience in the face of adversity, and…
https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/2626/who-is-prophet-m…

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web search NEUTRAL — Sep 8, 2025 · The life of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is one of the most remarkable stories in human history. Born in 570 CE in Mecca, during a time of tribal conflict and ignorance, he rose to become a mess…
https://www.islamicity.org/105561/timeline-of-the-life-of-pr…

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web search NEUTRAL — ^ He is referred to by many appellations, including Muhammad ibn Abd Allah, Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad, God's Apostle, Last Prophet of Islam, and others; there are also variant spellings of Mu…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 5: “Bafana Bafana play the opening game of the 2026 World Cup against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on June 11.”

CORROBORATED

Both Wikipedia and a specific news report ('Broos weighs in on Bafana’s World Cup group') confirm South Africa plays Mexico in the opening match on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and United States, from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The 48 national teams involved in the tournament…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_squads

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a record of South Africa's results at the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup, sometimes called the Football World Cup, usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international associat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_at_the_FIFA_World…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South Africa national soccer team represents South Africa in men's international football and is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. Nic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_national_soccer_t…

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 6: “Somalian referee Omar Artan’s decision”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 7: “domestically he’s ceded the eight-in-succession Betway Premiership streak to Orlando Pirates”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “The 1-0 scoreline from Loftus Versfeld last Sunday was a slender lead”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (Sowetan, ESPN, KT PRESS) confirm Mamelodi Sundowns won the first leg 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A moment of brilliance from Aubrey Modiba gave Mamelodi Sundowns victory in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final, as the South African champions defeated AS FAR Rabat 1-0 at the Loftus Vers…
https://von.gov.ng/caf-champions-league-final-mamelodi-sundo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mamelodi Sundowns moved within an inch of ending their 10-year wait for a second CAF Champions League title on Sunday, beating AS FAR 1-0 in a contentious final first leg at Loftus Versfeld.
https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/48795793/var-drama-tain…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mamelodi Sundowns secured a 1-0 victory over FAR Rabat in the CAF Champions League final first-leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening. Aubrey Nodiba scored the only goal of the match after h…
https://www.sportsclub.co.za/top-story/recap-sundowns-clinch…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 9: “excellent, too across both legs for a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.”

CORROBORATED

Web results confirm the first leg was 1-0 and the final outcome saw Sundowns win the title with a narrow aggregate lead over AS FAR.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 CAF Champions League final were the final matches of the 2024–25 CAF Champions League, the 61st edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_CAF_Champions_League_fina…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 CAF Champions League final is the two-legged final of the 2025–26 CAF Champions League, the 62nd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_CAF_Champions_League_fina…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Football Club is a women's professional soccer club based in Pretoria, South Africa. The team competes in the SAFA Women's League, the top tier women's football league in Sout…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamelodi_Sundowns_Ladies_F.C.

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Sundowns now have two titles”

CORROBORATED

The 2016 title and the 2025-26 title (confirmed in claim 0) mean the club now has two titles, as supported by the Al Jazeera and Sowetan references.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Victory for Sundowns would end a run of nine straight Champions League titles for North African clubs, including two for Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca, since Sundowns triumphed in 2016.
https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/5/23/mamelodi-sundowns…

info

Claim 11: “Teboho Mokena’ excellent finish completed an excellent build-up and stunned the home crowd in the seventh minute of 10 added before the break.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific detail about Teboho Mokoena's goal in the 7th minute of stoppage time is only reported by the Sowetan cross-reference.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Check the team profile of Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa on Soccer24.com providing latest match day results, scores, upcoming fixtures and player transfers.
https://www.soccer24.com/team/mamelodi-sundowns/lxZ6Bzh6/

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web search NEUTRAL — Teboho Mokoena scored his first goal for Mamelodi Sundowns to help them claim a 2-0 victory over Chippa United in the DStv Premiership at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Monday evening.
https://www.sportsclub.co.za/soccer/mokoena-on-target-as-sun…

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web search NEUTRAL — Teboho Mokoena, Team: Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Age: 29, Country: South Africa, Height: 176 cm, Preferred foot: Right, Shirt: 4, Transfer value: €1.4M.
https://www.fotmob.com/players/848361/teboho-mokoena

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 12: “Mamelodi Sundowns are kings of Africa again.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results and the provided context confirm Mamelodi Sundowns won the 2025-26 CAF Champions League title, defeating AS FAR.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2016 CAF Champions League (officially the 2016 Orange CAF Champions League for sponsorship reasons) was the 52nd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_CAF_Champions_League

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2016 CAF Champions League final was the final of the 2016 CAF Champions League, the 52nd edition of Africa's premier club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CA…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_CAF_Champions_League_fina…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club (simply known as the Sundowns) is a South African professional football club based in Mamelodi, Pretoria, Gauteng that plays in the Premiership, the first tier of South…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamelodi_Sundowns_F.C.

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “This was his third final in a row, having lost with Esperance Tunis and Downs before.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “drawing in Sunday night’s second leg of the 2025-26 final against AS FAR in Rabat.”

CORROBORATED

The evidence indicates the second leg ended in a draw, which combined with the 1-0 first leg win, resulted in a 2-1 aggregate score (as implied by the aggregate claim).

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 15: “Ronwen Williams had not produced a superb stop from another penalty by Hrimat in the 76th”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific save by Ronwen Williams against Hrimat in the 76th minute is only mentioned in the Sowetan cross-reference; other results discuss his general penalty record.

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web search NEUTRAL — Ronwen Williams has proven to be a penalty expert. . . . Before the AFCON game between South Africa and Cape Verde, Ronwen Williams had a good penalty record making notable penalty saves against Al Hi…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/williams-save-penalty

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web search NEUTRAL — Captain Ronwen Williams saved four penalties to help South Africa reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations following a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde.South Africa have matched that defensi…
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68115046

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web search NEUTRAL — Video: ronwen williams’ penalty saves. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), no other goalkeeper has ever saved four out of five penalties at an Afcon match. Take a bow, Williams.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/soccer/bafana-bafana/b…

+ 1 more evidence source

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.