The South African club Mamelodie Sandowns created an event by winning the first edition of the African Football League (AFL), which took place on Sunday November 12 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. The South Africans thus took their revenge on the Moroccans of Wydad Athletic of Casablanca, by winning with a score of 2-0 in the return final.
After suffering a 2-1 defeat in the first leg played in Morocco, Mamelodie Sandowns was able to win at home and come back from behind to win with a cumulative score of 3-2. Strikers Peter Shalulile and Modiba were the heroes of this meeting, scoring the two winning goals.
The AFL, which was in its first edition, brought together eight renowned African clubs. The stages took place in quarter-finals, semi-finals and final, with two-legged matches. In addition to Mamelodie Sandowns and Wydad Athletic from Casablanca, the teams entered were Al Ahly from Egypt, Esperance sportive from Tunis, TP Mazembe from the DRC, Petro de Luanda from Angola, FC Simba from Tanzania and Enyimba from Nigeria.
TP Mazembe, the sole representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Esperance sportive de Tunis. This journey shows the quality of the level of competition in the AFL and the need for teams to surpass themselves to hope to win this prestigious league.
This victory for Mamelodie Sandowns confirms the domination of South African football on the continental scene. The club will now be able to enjoy its first AFL victory and prepare for the next competitions to come.
The AFL is a competition that allows African clubs to compete against each other in a high-level competition. It also offers international visibility to players and a showcase for African talent in the world of football.
The next edition of the AFL promises to be even more intense and exciting, with new clubs ready to take up the challenge and fight for the title. African football continues to develop and gain notoriety, providing great opportunities for teams and players from the continent.
In conclusion, the victory of Mamelodie Sandowns in the first edition of the African Football League is a remarkable achievement for South African football. This competition allows African teams to compete and showcase their talent. The AFL is a showcase for African football and bodes well for future competitions.