FINAL FRENZY

SOUTH AFRICAN SIDES HAVE BEEN TO FIVE PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS WITH MIXED SUCCESS 

- Mark Gleeson

The African Champions League is decided this month, with the final restored to a two-legged affair and with the added incentive of a place at next year's expanded Club World Cup in the United States at stake.

FIFA's new-look competition in June 2025 will have four African representatives, including the 2024 Champions League winner, who will emerge after what has been a tough road to the final.

It began with the opening knockout round in August, and the surprise early elimination of Orlando Pirates, and progressed to the group phase in December, which continued in February after a lengthy break for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast at the start of the year. The exciting knockout stages have  kept the headlines flowing from the end of March.

The Champions League remains the continent's top club prize - even after the establishment of the new African Football League last year and something of an elusive target for South African clubs, even after more than three decades of participation.

4000000 The winner of this year's CAF Champions league will take home $4 million, or around R80 million. The runners-up get $2 million (R40 million)

Kaizer Chiefs were the first to fly the country's flag in the old-style African Champions Cup in 1993 and Orlando Pirates the first to win the Champions League trophy for the country only two years thereafter.

But ever since, clubs from Mzansi have battled to get to the deciding match and in line for another tilt at continental glory.

In total, there have been only five final appearances, with two successes and three defeats. 

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