The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially changed the date of the first leg of the 2025-26 CAF Champions League final, giving both finalists an updated roadmap ahead of African football’s biggest match at club level.
The opening match between Morocco’s AS FAR and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns will now be played on Sunday May 17 instead of the originally scheduled Friday May 15. The return leg remains unchanged and will take place on Sunday, May 24 in Rabat.
The first leg will be played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, and the second leg will be hosted at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat, where AS FAR will hope to finish the job in front of home fans.
Why the date was changed
According to reports, Mamelodi Sundowns requested the postponement of the first leg by 48 hours due to hosting concerns linked to attendance, scheduling and preferred kick-off conditions.
The South African club reportedly wanted a weekend date to maximize crowd presence at Loftus Versfeld and improve matchday logistics for a continental final. CAF has now accepted that request.
While the exact kick-off time is still expected to be finalized, the calendar change gives Sundowns the Sunday slot they wanted.
For AS FAR, the final is a chance to win only the second CAF Champions League title in club history and their first since 1985, when they became the first Moroccan club ever to lift Africa’s biggest club trophy.
The Rabat team reached the final after eliminating fellow Moroccan club RS Berkane in the semi-finals, with the growing belief that a continental crown is possible.
Having the second leg at home could be a major advantage, especially if AS FAR can secure a positive result in Pretoria.
Mamelodi Sundowns are aiming for their second CAF Champions League title after first winning the competition in 2016. One of the continent’s most consistent clubs in recent years.
Moroccan clubs have become a major force in African football over the last decade, with Wydad Casablanca, Raja Casablanca, RS Berkane and now AS FAR all reaching continental semifinals.
Read also: Sundowns and Moroccan Clubs: Rivalry Defined by Fine Margins
