Tuesday, 22 September 2026: The South African Communist Party (SACP) joins football fans in South Africa and across the African continent in congratulating Mamelodi Sundowns football club for winning the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup 2026, after beating Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli 2-1 on Saturday.

A major step in their historic quest towards conquering world football, Sundowns have set the bar so high for South African football as they are the first ever South African club to clinch the African-Asian-Pacific Cup and only the third African club to ever win it after Al Ahly FC and Pyramids FC, both from Egypt.

Mamelodi Sundowns entered the 2026–27 season as the top-ranked football club on the African continent. Following their victory against the Asian champions, the African kings and now intercontinental champions have climbed the world football clubs ranking, now ranking 58th, and look set to break new records along the way.

The FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup forms part of the mega final matches within the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, which is expected to conclude in December. After their victory on Saturday, Sundowns now proceed to the Challenger Cup, where they will meet either the Concacaf Champions Cup holders, Toluca FC of Mexico, or the winners of the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship.

As Sundowns continue on their journey in world football, the SACP is confident that the future of South African football is in good hands.

In tribute to Mamelodi Sundowns, the SACP reiterates its call to our government to deepen sports development, particularly in townships and rural areas. The government has the duty to, working with the people, redress any imbalances that were created by colonial and apartheid rule, which largely impacted the black majority, with black women being the most impacted.