Sundowns Lose the Battle in Mali, Win the Tie — and Set Up a Heavyweight CAF Semi with Esperance

Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2-0 loss away to Stade Malien wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to secure a place in the CAF Champions League semifinals on aggregate. Now Miguel Cardoso faces a familiar high-stakes test against Esperance, a matchup that will demand tactical precision and emotional control.