Sundowns beat Wydad to win inaugural African Football League

Peter Shalulile and Aubrey Modiba scored as Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa beat Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2-0 in Pretoria on Sunday to win the inaugural African Football League.

Sundowns won the two-leg final 3-2 on aggregate to claim their first African trophy since lifting the CAF Super Cup six years ago.

It was their first success against Wydad in a knockout tie having lost twice to them in the semi-finals and once in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League from 2017.

This was also the first time more than one goal separated the clubs, with eight of the previous 13 meetings won by a one-goal margin and the other five drawn.

Success was worth four million dollars to Sundowns – the equivalent of winning the South African league five times.

"I am so lucky to be in charge of this magnificent group of players," said Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena.

"My thanks to the yellow nation (Sundowns supporters) for their wonderful support from the first minute to the last.

"It is difficult to talk now. This is a very emotional time for me. There has been so much heartbreak after some previous matches against Wydad. Now there is joy."

Recalled after missing Sundowns' previous five matches in the competition, Namibia captain Shalulile broke the deadlock three minutes into first-half added time.

Wydad goalkeeper Youssef el Motie parried a Teboho Mokoena shot from the edge of the box and Shalulile reacted quickest to slam the ball into the roof of the net.

The goal finally gave the capacity 50,000 crowd, which included the presidents of Fifa and CAF, Gianni Infantino and Patrice Motsepe, something to cheer.

Numerous stoppages for injuries, overly physical challenges, and time wasting combined to deliver an opening half far