Sundowns Beat Al Ahli 2-1 to Advance in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup

⚽ Sports News

Published 20 September 2026

Sundowns beat Al Ahli 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon to win the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup and stay alive in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. Nuno Santos scored twice, including a header in the 80th minute, to send the African champions past the Asian champions from Saudi Arabia.

Sundowns Beat Al Ahli: Match Report

Miguel Cardoso’s side had a full week to prepare after their 1-1 draw with Chippa United in the league, and they started like it. Santos put them in front in the 17th minute, heading home from a Teboho Mokoena cross.

Al Ahli levelled two minutes later with an unlucky own goal. A Firas Al Buraikan effort rebounded off Sundowns captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and into the net, and the first half finished level even though Sundowns had the better of it for long spells.

The Saudi side grew into the game after the break and looked capable of dragging it into extra time. Instead, Santos struck again in the 80th minute with another header, and Sundowns held on in front of their home supporters.

The Numbers Behind the Win

The stats show a comfortable Sundowns performance. They had 71% of the possession, took 10 shots to Al Ahli’s 4 and put 6 of them on target, while Al Ahli managed just one shot on target all afternoon, and their goal was an own goal.

A Tough Test Against the Asian Champions

Al Ahli arrived as reigning AFC Champions League Elite winners and had beaten Auckland FC 1-0 in Jeddah in August to earn the trip to Pretoria. Their squad is full of big names, including Ivan Toney, Edouard Mendy, Galeno and Francisco Trincao, and it was the first ever meeting between the two clubs. Sundowns were also missing Khuliso Mudau, Keanu Cupido and Arthur Sales through injury, which makes the result more impressive.

What Happens Next in the Intercontinental Cup

The Intercontinental Cup is a knockout competition made up of single match ties, and it brings together the reigning champions of FIFA’s six confederations. Paris Saint-Germain, who won the 2025 edition by beating Flamengo in the final, are through directly to the final as European champions.

Sundowns now move on to the FIFA Challenger Cup, and they are the third African side in a row to win this stage after Al Ahly in 2024 and Pyramids in 2025. Their opponent will be the winner of the FIFA Derby of the Americas, where Concacaf champions Toluca meet the winner of the Copa Libertadores. That Libertadores final is in Montevideo on 28 November, with sides including Flamengo, Fluminense and Palmeiras still in the running, so we will not know Sundowns’ opponent until then.

FIFA has said the Derby of the Americas, the Challenger Cup and the final will all be played at one centralised venue, still to be confirmed. Reports point to December, but the exact dates have not been confirmed, so check FIFA’s official site for the schedule.

The Domestic Picture

The result is a welcome boost for a side that also leads the domestic race. As of Saturday evening, Sundowns top the Betway Premiership log on 20 points from 8 matches, unbeaten with 6 wins and 2 draws, and they are the reigning continental champions after winning the CAF Champions League last season. If you follow the league from a betting angle, our guide to the best PSL betting markets explains how the low scoring nature of the Premiership shapes the prices.