Mamelodi Sundowns FC: History, Squad, Rivalries, Honours & Future Plans

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. are an African football club based in Mamelodi, Pretoria, in the Gauteng province that plays in the Betway Premiership, the first tier of the South African football league system. The club was founded in the 1970s, and its home ground is Loftus Versfeld Stadium. As of 2025, Mamelodi Sundowns are the most successful club in the South African Football League, dominating the league domestically with 15 league titles, and they have also won the Nedbank Cup six times and the MTN 8 four times.

South African football clubs started participating in the CAF competitions in 1993, after facing a 16-year ban from FIFA due to an apartheid system; the ban was extended from 1976 to 1992. Mamelodi Sundowns were the first club from South Africa to represent the CAF in the FIFA Club World Cup, following their 2016 CAF Champions League success. Mamelodi Sundowns are participating in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States. On 17 June, Sundowns secured their first Club World Cup victory against South Korea's Ulsan HD. It was also the first victory for an African side in the tournament, after another CAF side, Al-Ahly, drew their opening match against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.

Mamelodi Sundowns: Key Facts

Mamelodi Sundowns are the first team from Africa to win a match in the FIFA Club World Cup, which is hosted in the United States of America. Sundowns are currently holding the record for the biggest victory in the CAF Champions League by defeating a Seychelles side, Cote d'Or, 11-1 at home, and 16-1 on aggregate in the first round of the 2019-20 season. As of 2025, Sundowns are the most successful and decorated club in the PSL era, dominating the league domestically with 15 titles.

Mamelodi Sundowns are owned by a South African business tycoon, Patrice Motsepe, and it's the most valuable club in South Africa, with a market value of €29 million as of the 2023-24 season. The club takes pride in its unique style of attacking play, which includes combinations of quick and short passes on the ground, and this is linked with the Spanish football style “Tiki-Taka” and combined with total football. Over the years, the style of play has been reflected in their youth teams and women's football team.

Mamelodi Sundowns Sponsors, Net Worth & Value

Mamelodi Sundowns' net worth is approximately €30 million, making them the richest club in the history of African football. Sundowns are currently owned by a South African business tycoon, Patrice Motsepe; however, their current valuation is unknown, as the information is not publicly available. Moreover, the club is currently sponsored by a beer company for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, Carling Black Label. Additionally, their other sponsors are Ubuntu Botho, Puma, Huawei, Red Bull, and Biogen.

Mamelodi Sundowns Rivalries

Mamelodi Sundowns' fiercest rival is Orlando Pirates, where Mamelodi Sundowns are dominating the Premiership, winning the most number of titles, and currently being at the top of the glory, both internationally and domestically, the team is growing and representing South Africa in the FIFA Club World Cup. Orlando City is a mid-table team, and their inconsistent performance is costing them glory; however, in this 2024/25 season, Orlando Pirates finished the Premiership in the second spot. Hopefully, they will go on to win some silverware next season as their fiercest rivals.

Derbies

The match between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United is famously known as the Tshwane derby. The derby is one of the fiercest in the world; both teams across the town battle for the glory; however, the derby is currently dominated by the Mamelodi Sundowns, and they are at the top of the league with their consistent performance. Over the years, SuperSport United has been a mid-table team.

Mamelodi Sundowns Trophies and Achievements

As of 2025, Mamelodi Sundowns are the most successful and decorated team in the Betway Premiership, winning 15 league titles domestically and still dominating the league, being at the top. Mamelodi Sundowns are currently the first team from Africa that is playing in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and represents the country.

Mamelodi Sundowns won their first match against Ulsan HD, becoming the first team from Africa to clinch their first victory in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Let's take a look at their trophy cabinet. Domestically, the club has won the Nedbank Cup six times, the MTN 8 four times. They are the first South African team to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they finished in 6th place. Sundowns became the first club from South Africa to win both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Women's Champions League titles in 2021. In 2023, Mamelodi was crowned champions of the African Football League.

History of Mamelodi Sundowns

Sundowns were originally established in Marabastad, a cosmopolitan area north-west of Pretoria, in the early sixties, where it was formed by a group of youngsters. The club reached the doors of some business tycoons for funding the young players, such as Frank Motsepe, Roy Fischer, Ingle Singh, and Bernard Hartze. The newly established team was named Marabastad Sundowns after an amateur club called Sundowns, which existed in the 1940s, also formed in Marabastad.

In 1969, Ingle Singh, one of the founding members of the Sundowns and later owner of both Marabastad Sundowns and Pretoria City, and Pretoria City later became the SuperSport United F.C., decided to sell the club to Dr. Bonny Sebotsane, Dr. Motsiri Itsweng, and philanthropist Joseph Ntshimane. Later, the club was moved to the nearby township of Mamelodi and was officially established and renamed as Mamelodi Sundowns in 1970.

In 1978, Sundowns joined the National Professional Soccer League after the merger of the National Football League and the previous version of the National Professional Soccer League. South African football clubs started participating in the CAF competitions in 1993, after facing 16 16-year ban from FIFA due to a system; the ban was extended from 1976 to 1992. Mamelodi Sundowns were the first club from South Africa to represent the CAF in the FIFA Club World Cup, following their 2016 CAF Champions League success.

The club takes pride in its unique style of attacking play, which includes combinations of quick and short passes on the ground, and this is linked with the Spanish football style “Tiki-Taka” and combined with total football. Over the years, the style of play has been reflected in their youth teams and women's football team.

The club is nicknamed Bafana ba Style, Masandawana, Ka bo Yellow, Shoe Shine and Piano, and The Brazilians. Mamelodi Sundowns have won the 2016 CAF Champions League, the 2017 CAF Super Cup, and were voted the 2016 CAF Club of the Year. In 2020, the club appointed former assistant coaches, Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi, as joint Head Coaches. The club celebrated their 5th consecutive league win and a Nedbank Cup, which showed that the club was heading in a good direction. In 2021/22 was another record-breaking league season played under Covid restrictions.

Future Goals

Mamelodi Sundowns should be focused on their playing style, as they made a mark with their unique playing style combination of Tiki-Taka and Total Football, and retain their previous marquee players, and add some young talents to it, which will enhance their playing style and help them to be better in their tactical play.

The Sundowns are currently playing in the FIFA Club World Cup and representing the South Africa, however they are not into the list of the favorites to win the Club World up, despite not being the favorites, they should leave a mark on the pitch, and should fearlessly face the big clubs, not being a traditional low-block team, they should show their unique style of playing.