On a dramatic day in Rustenburg, South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns secured their third major trophy of the season, capping off a remarkable campaign with a 2-1 victory over Marumo Gallants in the FA Cup final on May 29, 2022.
The match, which was decided in the 120th minute, saw Thapelo Morena score the winning goal, firing a low shot past Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi. This triumph marked the culmination of a season that saw Sundowns dominate South African football, winning the FA Cup, Premiership, and an early season knockout competition.
With a total of 30 million rand ($1.9 million/1.8 million euros) in prize money, Sundowns' success has been nothing short of impressive. The club also received an additional 10 million rand for reaching the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
While Sundowns' priority this season was the Champions League, they ultimately fell short, losing to Petro Luanda of Angola. Despite this setback, the team's performance has been a significant improvement from previous seasons, with Sundowns winning the premier African club competition for the first time in 2016.
Next season, Sundowns and Cape Town City will represent South Africa in the Champions League, while Marumo and Royal AM or Orlando Pirates will compete in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.
