The 2024/25 season for Mamelodi Sundowns was a tale of two halves: unparalleled domestic league dominance juxtaposed with frustrating near-misses in cup competitions.
While Masandawana once again asserted their authority by clinching the inaugural Betway Premiership title, their quest for further silverware, particularly on the continental stage, proved elusive.
Pre-Season Moves and Coaching Changes
Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Sundowns made strategic moves in the transfer market, bringing in five new faces. Brazilian striker Arthur Sales, alongside Iqraam Rayners and winger Kobamelo Kodisang, were acquired to bolster the attack, while defenders Asekho Tiwani and Kegan Johannes arrived to reinforce the backline.
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A significant shift occurred on the technical bench as Manqoba Mngqithi was appointed head coach, following the departure of Rhulani Mokwena after the 2023/24 season.
Early Stumbles and a Coaching Switch
The season kicked off with some shaky performances in the MTN8, where Bafana Ba Style were surprisingly eliminated in the two-legged semi-final by eventual runners-up Stellenbosch.
Despite this early setback, Mngqithi’s side soon found their rhythm, embarking on a prolific scoring run of 21 goals in their next six matches across all competitions. This included a resounding 5-0 thrashing of Golden Arrows in the Carling Knockout Cup. However, a surprise 1-0 league defeat to Polokwane City briefly halted their momentum.
Sundowns did progress to the Carling Knockout final, but despite leading at halftime, they ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat against top-flight newcomers Magesi FC.
Their league form, however, remained strong, as they embarked on a four-match winning streak in the Betway Premiership without conceding a goal. The 2024/25 CAF Champions League group stage presented a different challenge, with the team winning only one of their last three matches, raising concerns about their continental ambitions.
This dip in CAF Champions League form led to another coaching change. Manqoba Mngqithi was replaced by Portuguese mentor Miguel Cardoso, as the club sought to intensify their pursuit of the coveted continental title.
Mid-Season Reinforcements and Cardoso’s Impact
During the January transfer window, Sundowns further strengthened their squad with the additions of Argentine defender Lucas Suarez, Keanu Cupido, and Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams.
Under Cardoso’s guidance, Sundowns enjoyed an immediate resurgence, winning his first four matches in charge and scoring three or more goals in each fixture.
This impressive run included a dominant 4-1 victory over title rivals Orlando Pirates at a packed Loftus Versveld Stadium, highlighted by a superb solo effort from Brazilian star Lucas Ribeiro.
Cardoso’s first defeat came against a determined TS Galaxy, but his side quickly bounced back, winning six of their next seven matches and progressing to the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals.
In March, Sundowns suffered what would be their final defeat in the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season against an inspired Orlando Pirates, finding themselves 2-0 down within the opening five minutes.
Domestic and Continental Final Heartbreak
The Tshwane-based outfit continued their Nedbank Cup journey, reaching the semi-finals after a hard-fought 1-0 extra-time win against Sekhukhune United. They then overcame Esperance to set up a tantalizing CAF Champions League semi-final clash against Al Ahly.
That being said, their Nedbank Cup hopes were dashed in the semi-final against Kaizer Chiefs. Despite holding a halftime lead, Sundowns squandered their advantage, losing 2-1 after an 89th-minute goal from substitute Ashley Du Preez.
In a gutsy performance in the second leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final, Masandawana secured a dramatic 1-1 draw against Al Ahly in Egypt, courtesy of a last-minute Yasser Ibrahim own goal, securing their place in the final on the away goals rule.
On May 7th, The Brazilians officially clinched the Betway Premiership title with three matches to spare, following a dominant 3-0 victory against Chippa United. Remarkably, Miguel Cardoso’s side did not concede a single goal in their final six league fixtures, scoring two or more goals in each of those matches, underscoring their domestic supremacy.
The continental showpiece saw the Cardoso’s men battle against first-time finalists Pyramids FC, who had eliminated fellow South African representatives Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals. An injury-time equalizer from Walid El Karti at Loftus cancelled out Lucas Ribeiro’s 55th-minute opener, forcing Sundowns to score an away goal in Egypt.
In the second leg, Pyramids took the lead midway through the first half through in-form DR Congo striker Fiston Mayele, before doubling their advantage with an Ahmed Samy header in the 56th minute. While Iqraam Rayners managed to pull Masandawana back into the tie with a 75th-minute strike, they couldn’t find a crucial second goal, ultimately succumbing to a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
FIFA Club World Cup Journey and Future Outlook
Following the regular season, the team departed for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, opting against using the special transfer window granted to participants.
Sundowns secured their first victory in the tournament against Ulsan HD, thanks to a solitary goal from Iqraam Rayners, though two other Rayners goals were disallowed by VAR.
The South African team garnered global admiration with a spirited performance against German giants Borussia Dortmund, bravely rallying from a 4-1 deficit to ultimately lose 4-3. Their Club World Cup journey concluded after a goalless draw against Brazilian side Fluminense, failing to convert crucial chances in their final group stage clash.
Looking ahead, the upcoming pre-season will provide Miguel Cardoso with a valuable opportunity to work extensively with the squad. It’s anticipated that there will be changes in the playing squad ahead of the 2025/26 season, with some impressive performances at the FIFA Club World Cup potentially attracting foreign interest for several players.