Kenyan international Brian Onyango Mandela was a late substitute as he helped Mamelodi Sundowns win the inaugural African Football League trophy on Sunday.

The first leg had ended 2-1 in favour of Wydad Casablanca, but the South African giants made home advantage count with a 2-0 victory infront of their fans at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

Striker Peter Shalulile who was returning from injury capitalised on a ball parried back by the Wydad goalkeeper to put Sundowns ahead i the third minute of added time going into the break. After recess Aubrey Modiba made it 2-0 after 53 minutes to ensure the home side won on a 3-2 goal aggregate.

With Sundowns dominating play Onyango Mandela was introduced after 86 minutes to replace goal scorer Shaulile.

Rulani Mokwena, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach was all tears after the final whistle. ” Special congratulations to these magnificent players because they made history because you are continental champions, ” added the 36-year old Mokwena.

Another player from the CECAFA Zone Denis Onyango (Uganda) was on the bench and was not used. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motespe and General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba also graced the final.

Tanzania’s Simba SC were the only team from the CECAFA Zone that played in the African Football League losing to Egyptian giants Al Ahly on away goals rule after a 3-3 draw on aggregate at the quarter final stage.

After eight teams battling in the inaugural African Football League (AFL), 24 top teams in Africa are expected feature in 2024.

The head coach of Simba SC, Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliveira has said despite exiting the inuagural African Football League (AFL), his team gave a good account in the two legs against Al Ahly.

Simba SC settled for a 2-2 draw in their first leg quarter final encounter against the Egyptian giants last Friday in Dar es Salaam, and drew 1-1 at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday. Sadio Kanoute gave Simba SC the lead early in the second half, but Mahmoud Abdelmonem Kharaba leveled matters.

The 11-time African champions Al Ahly went on to qualify for the semi final stage on an  away goals rule since they netted two goals in Dar es Salaam.

Oliveira has made it clear that they played against a strong team, but gave a very good account over the two legs.

” I am happy about the performance we put up in the two legs and this shows Simba SC’s performance in the competition. We need to go back to the drawing board and prepare for other matches to come in the Tanzania League and the CAF Champions League, ” added Simba SC’s coach.

For finishing as quarter finalists Simba SC will pocket US$900,000. The other quarter finalists will also pocket US$900,000, while the two semi-finalists take US$1.7 million each, the runner-up US$2.8 million and the winner US$4 million.

Simba SC head coach Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliveira has made it clear that they still have a chance to prove a point when they face Al Ahly in the second leg of the African Football League.

The two teams settled for a 2-2 draw in the first leg quarter final match which ushered in the inuagural African Football League on Friday evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

« We fought from a goal down and later took the lead. But we lacked some sort of concentration later and conceded a second goal. We know what to do in the second leg and the match is still very open, » said the Brazilian tactician.

After lots of attack at goal, Al Ahly took the lead through Moroccan Reda Slim infront of the 60,000 capacity filled Stadium. Later the Tanzanian giants netted two goals in the second half through Denis Kibu and Malian Sadio Kanoute.

But the 11-time African champions kept pushing forward and capitalised on Simba SC’s lack of concentration to level matters after 63 minutes through Mahmoud Kahraba.

Shomari Salum Kapombe, Simba SC’s experienced defender told Cecafaonline that they are more than determined to go a get a good result in the second leg. « We made some mistakes in the first leg, but we are still hungry to perform well and qualify for the semi final stage, » added Kapombe.

The match was watched by several deginatories including the Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and several Member Association Presidents among others.

The Simba SC team together with Al Ahly are expected to travel to Egypt on Saturday ahead of the return leg to be played at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday.

Today Angola’s Petro Atletico de Luanda will battle South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, while TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo) will host Esperance Tunis of Tunisia at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, and Nigeria’s Enyimba battle Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca the same day.

Each of the four quarter finalists will receive US$900,000, while the two semi finalists take US$1.7 million each. The runner-up will walk away with US$2.8 million and the winner US$4 million.

The inuagural African Football League kicks off this evening with a quarter final tie between Simba SC and Al Ahly at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Although Simba SC defeated the Egyptian giants 1-0 in a CAF Champions League tie two years ago at the same Stadium, the match today is a different competition with a totally different vibe.

John Bocco, the Simba SC captain made it clear that although they respect Al Ahly, they know they need a good result in the first leg before traveling to Cairo. “It is not easy game, We will face a strong opponent but will be ready for it,” said the experienced Bocco.

Simba SC’s Brazillian coach Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliveira also made it clear that although Al Ahly is a good team with alot of history, his team is well prepared to get a positive result.

“We have the players who can do the work on the pitch. We have the confidence and believe in our team, ” added the Simba SC coach. Oliveira made it clear that they want to win every game as a team.

” This is a big moment not just for Simba but Tanzanian football as well. Our objective is to win and make a good performance as well,” he added.

Mohammed El Shenawy, the Al Ahly skipper said they are in Tanzania for serious business.

”We know it’s a new tournament, and Al Ahly aims to win every competition participates in, ” added the captain.

The Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller said this new tournament is great for Africa football because it’s giving players another platform to be competitive. ” We have a very difficult game against Simba because we know every team is always double motivated to play against Al Ahly, ” added coach of the 11-time African champions

In the other quarterfinal match, Angola’s Petro Atletico de Luanda will battle South African side Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.

TP Mazembe who are not able to play in the Democratic Republic of Congo will host Esperance Tunis of Tunisia at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, while Nigeria’s Enyimba battle Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca the same day.