Patrice Motsepe’s son, Thlopie Motsepe, has taken over as Sundowns’ chairman. Image: @Masandawana/Twitter.
What Sundowns now need to qualify for FIFA Club World Cup…
The permutations for qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup have just become complicated for Sundowns after Esperance win.
Patrice Motsepe’s son, Thlopie Motsepe, has taken over as Sundowns’ chairman. Image: @Masandawana/Twitter.
It’s common knowledge now that Mamelodi Sundowns are through to the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League after beating Young Africans last weekend.
The Brazilians needed penalties to knock Yanga out following two goalless draws away and at home.
Now, Sundowns went into that encounter against Yanga knowing that they stood a good chance of qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
They needed Esperance to lose their quarter-final match in order to qualify for the expanded global club tournament.
However, Esperance won to set up a date with Sundowns in the semi-finals.
PERMUTATIONS: WHAT SUNDOWNS NEED TO QUALIFY FOR CLUB WORLD CUP
There is a new twist to the permutations of qualifying for the 32-team tournament, and Sundowns need to work hard.
- Sundowns will qualify if they reach the final/win the title, or if the final is Esperance/Ahly.
- Esperance will qualify if they reach the final/win the title or if the final is Sundowns/Ahly.
- TP Mazembe will qualify only if they win the title.
In the event that TP Mazembe win the Caf Champions League title and automatically qualify for the Club World Cup with Sundowns having crashed in the semis, then the Lubumbashi-based outfit would be joined by Esperance.
Africa will be represented by four teams at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and two clubs in Al Ahly and Wydad have already qualified.
And that’s because they lifted the Caf Champions League in the last three years, and therefore, are ranked higher than the rest.
R1 BILLION BONANZA UP FOR GRABS
It has been confirmed that every participant at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will receive R1 billion each for qualifying.
And Sundowns will undoubtedly want to be among those that will get the money to further strengthen their financial muscles.
Winning the Caf Champions League, though, remains their mandate and that of Rhulani Mokwena given the resources available to him.
Sundowns last won the Caf Champions League in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane.
