Sundowns Target Premiership Reclaim, Champions League Defense for New Season

Mamelodi Sundowns are preparing for a demanding 2026/27 season with clear objectives: to reclaim the DStv PremiershipCompetition·DStv Premiership title and successfully defend their CAF Champions League crown. These ambitions follow a 2025/26 campaign that saw the club achieve continental glory but relinquish domestic dominance.

The Brazilians secured their second CAF Champions League title by defeating Moroccan side AS FARTeam·AS FAR with a 2-1 aggregate victory in the final. This triumph not only solidified their standing as a continental powerhouse but also earned them berths in the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the 2029 FIFA Club World CupCompetition·FIFA Club World Cup, alongside a spot in the 2026 CAF Super CupCompetition·CAF Super Cup against USM Alger.

However, the continental success was juxtaposed with a notable disappointment on the domestic front. Mamelodi Sundowns' eight-season reign in the DStv PremiershipCompetition·DStv Premiership concluded as Orlando PiratesTeam·Orlando Pirates claimed the league title, leaving Sundowns in second place. This outcome was widely considered underwhelming for a club accustomed to consistent domestic supremacy.

Defender Aubrey Modiba articulated the team's resolve to rectify their domestic standing. "We want to win the league again because the feeling of losing it was not nice. Some of us never experienced it, so we want to go back to that feeling of winning the league every season," Modiba stated, emphasizing the importance of the league title as a pathway back to the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League.

Modiba also confirmed the squad's collective ambition to secure another continental crown. "Grateful for second star and hopefully we can add the third one," he remarked, highlighting the desire to "get our gold badge back" and add more stars to their jersey, signifying further CAF Champions League triumphs.

The 2025/26 Premiership season saw Sundowns accumulate 68 points from 30 matches, a decrease from their 73 points in 28 games the previous season. Their win rate also dipped from 86% to 67%, with an increase in draws and goals conceded, underscoring a shift in their domestic consistency.

The upcoming season presents an unprecedented challenge, with Mamelodi Sundowns preparing to compete in eight competitions. This demanding schedule will rigorously test the depth and resilience of their squad. The club has already begun strengthening its ranks, with winger Antonio van Wyk joining ahead of the 2026/27 season. Van Wyk cited the club's winning culture and rich history as key factors in his decision to return to South Africa from Europe.

As Mamelodi Sundowns embark on this new campaign, the dual pursuit of domestic reclamation and continental defense will define their season, demanding peak performance across multiple fronts.