It has been a tough road for South African clubs in continental competitions over the last three decades, but there have been a smattering of highlights, writes Mark Gleeson.
South Africa are relative newcomers to competing in the African club competition, but have more than 30 years’ experience now.
It was after the fall of Apartheid that South Africa rejoined the Confederation of African Football, and in 1992 that the first clubs from the country travelled north of the borders to take on African opposition.
Initially, there were three annual competitions but since 2004 they have been slimmed down to the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
As one of the 12 best performing countries – determined by a ranking of how well clubs have done over the five previous years – South Africa is allowed to enter two clubs per competition.
That was not always the case, particularly in the late 2000s when Premier Soccer League clubs had little interest in the cash-sapping competitions.
But the attitude changed when Orlando Pirates reached the Champions League final in 2013 and since Mamelodi Sundowns have embraced chasing continental glory.
Today, though, and after more than 700 matches in African club competition, South African clubs have won only four continental trophies over the years.
1995
On the eve of hosting the Cup of Nations finals, Orlando Pirates went through to the Champions Cup final where they were up against ASEC Abidjan of the Ivory Coast.
Both clubs were looking for their first triumph in the competition and after a 2–2 draw in the first leg of the final at Soccer City, ASEC were in the driving seat.
Pirates fired coach Joe Frickleton and put his assistant Ronald Mkandawire in charge, although with chairman Irvin Khoza traveling with the side, he was presumably pulling the strings.
The Ivorians were expecting a coronation in front of their fans at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, but their plans were derailed by Pirates’ snatch and grab win with the only goal from Jerry Sikhosana ensuring a 3–2 aggregate triumph for the Buccaneers.
2001
Kaizer Chiefs were the second side to win continental silverware in the African Cup Winners’ Cup.
AmaKhosi did all the hard work on route to the final, eliminating Ismailia of Egypt and Club Africain from Tunisia before they took on Angolan police side InterClube in the deciding tie.
A 1–1 draw in the first leg in Luanda was followed by a 1–0 win for Chiefs in the return match at Ellis Park with Patrick Mabedi converting a penalty to ensure the trophy, which was named after Nelson Mandela came to South Africa for the first time.
2016
Mamelodi Sundowns caught a lucky break after elimination in the second round.
Opponents AS Vita Club used a defaulter in the first round, so Sundowns were reinstated in the competition and Pitso Mosimane’s side suddenly clicked into gear and won their group, then proved fortunate again to sneak past Zesco United of Zambia in the semi-final before a 3–1 aggregate triumph over Zamalek of Egypt in the deciding match.
The first leg in Atteridgeville was 3–0 win and one of the best performances put on by a South African club in international competition.
2023
Sundowns were winners of the inaugural African Football League, the ‘super league’ concept that the World Cup and Champions League Cup insisted on proceeding with, even after a similar idea for Europe had been firmly shot down.
Sundowns won eight games to take the title, getting past Al Ahly in the semi-final before beating old nemesis Wydad Casablanca in the decider.
REGULARS
Sundowns are by far the most frequent South African competitor in African club competition, with this year’s Champions League campaign being the 18th time they have competed in the continent’s top club competition.
This season they are also through to the group phase for a 10th successive campaign. Sundowns have also competed in the Confederation Cup, the old Cup Winners’ Cup and the Champions League Cup.
DEBUTANTS
Jomo Cosmos were the first South African club in continental competition but only one hour ahead of Chiefs.
They beat Denver Sundowns of Swaziland 1–0 in Nelspruit in the first leg of their Cup Winners’ Cup preliminary round tie on 7 February 1993.
Tommy Madigage scored the only goal after 42 minutes. The same afternoon Chiefs were away at Extension Gunners of Botswana in the Champions Cup with Eric September scoring in the first half in Gaborone for a 1–0 away triumph.
RECORD SCORE
At the start of the 2019/20 season, Sundowns claimed close to a new record with a 16–1 aggregate win over Cote d’Or from the Seychelles, winning 5–0 away in the first leg and then 11–1 at home in the return game of their second round tie.
Two seasons prior they had a 15–1 aggregate win over another club from the island, La Passe, but both legs were played in Pretoria.
SuperSport beat Red Star from Seychelles 9–0 at home in the 2005 Confederation Cup. The record for African club competition remains a 12–1 win for Tanzania’s Pamba Sport over Anse Boileau (Seychelles) in the second leg of the African Cup Winners’ Cup first round match in 1990. They had won the first leg 5–0 and the 17–1 aggregate is also a record.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIELD
A total of 11 South African clubs competed in the Champions League previously – with five of them bizarrely no longer around.
Manning Rangers (1998), Platinum Stars (2008) and Bidvest Wits (2017 and 2018) no longer exist while Santos (2003) have dropped down to the amateur ranks. Ajax Cape Town (2005 and 2009) are now Cape Town Spurs.
RUNNERS-UP
Pirates have been to four continental finals, three since their 1995 Champions Cup triumph.
They lost in the 2013 Champions League final, undone by a wonder freekick from the boot of Al Ahly superstar Mohamed Aboutrika, and then again two years later in the Confederation Cup decider as Étoile Sahel of Tunisia edged them 2–1 on aggregate.
They also reached the 2022 Confederation Cup final, played in Uyo, Nigeria, where they lost on postmatch penalties to Renaissance Berkane from Morocco.
SuperSport United reached the 2017 final under Eric Tinkler but lost to TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chiefs surprised when they got to the 2021 Champions League final.
It was the same season they had a FIFA ban and were unable to beef up their squad and had also fired coach Gavin Hunt before the semi-final, handing over to Arthur Zwane and then Stuart Baxter who took charge for the deciding game against Al Ahly.
