Mamelodi Sundowns are one of four African sides heading for the USA to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

Read on to find out more about South Africa’s sole representative at the finals, with details on how they qualified for the global tournament, their history and some iconic players.

How they qualified
Mamelodi Sundowns earned their place at the FIFA Club World Cup via the CAF ranking pathway. Their consistent participation in the CAF Champions League in the four-year qualifying period (2020-24), in which they reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals twice apiece, ensured they qualified for the tournament that will be played in the USA.

Club history
Initially established in the 1960s by a group of youngsters in Pretoria as the Marabastad Sundowns, they then joined the Federation of Professional Soccer League in 1967, before beginning as an official club three years later. Their yellow, green and blue kit led to the side being called ‘the Brazilians’, while the flair their sides typically play with has also earned them the name ‘Bafana ba Style’ (Boys with style).

Following a decade at the top table of South African football, Sundowns were relegated in 1980 and spent the next five years in the second tier. That was until Zola Mahobe, nicknamed ‘Mr Cool’, took over and led the side back to the top flight. By 1986 they were back on the South African football map, defeating Jomo Cosmos 1-0 to lift the Mainstay Cup.

Dr Patrice Motsepe acquired the club in 2003, before renaming the side as Mamelodi Sundowns a year later as a nod to “the club’s home in Mamelodi.” The Brazilians have won 12 league titles this century, with their crowning glory coming in 2016, when Pitso Mosimane led his charges to a league and CAF Champions League double.

Iconic Players
Raphael Chukwu
Who can forget this era which had some classic moments and club legends, players like Go Man Go Mabusela,Walter Kutumela, Mambush, Fire Masile, Romario Molefe, Zane

In the late 90s, fans of the Yellow Nation worshipped the goalscoring exploits of the man they called the ‘Chukwu Train’, paying homage to his raw power and strength. In 124 starts, the Nigeria international knocked in 63 goals, helping himself to the PSL Footballer of the Year award in 1998 in the process. He caught the eye of Italian side Bari a year later, but returned for two more stints with the South African giants, before retiring in 2004.

Peter Ndlovu

Having turned out for Birmingham City, Coventry City and Sheffield United across more than ten years in England, Zimbabwean forward Ndlovu is one of Africa’s finest exports. He returned to his home continent in 2004 and spent four years with the Sundowns, helping them to league and cup glory along the way, before spending time as the club’s team manager in 2020.

Themba Zwane

A bona fide club legend, Zwane has over 400 appearances and counting for the South African outfit, while winning more than 40 caps for the national side. Best deployed behind the striker, Zwane – who was part of the victorious 2016 CAF Champions League side – has wowed The Brazilians’ faithful for over a decade with silky skills, crucial goals and his trademark pirouette.