AS FAR will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final in Pretoria, South Africa [1, 2].
The match represents a historic opportunity for the Moroccan side to reclaim continental dominance after decades of waiting. Both clubs enter the final having each won the title once in their respective histories [1, 3].
The first leg is scheduled for Sunday, May 15, 2024, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium [2, 4]. This away fixture is described as a difficult mission for AS FAR, who must contend with a formidable opponent on their home turf [1, 2].
AS FAR is seeking its first championship since 1985 [1]. This victory would end a drought lasting more than 40 years [1]. The team's journey back to the summit of African football culminates in this two-legged final, with the second leg scheduled for May 24, 2024 [3, 4].
Both teams have a balanced history in the competition, with each side having secured one previous trophy [1]. The outcome of the match in Pretoria will likely set the tone for the return leg, as the Moroccan club attempts to overcome the disadvantage of playing away from home.
The final remains the most prestigious club competition on the continent. For AS FAR, the stakes are heightened by the length of time since their last major success in 1985 [1].
“AS FAR is seeking its first championship since 1985”
The final pits two clubs with singular previous titles against each other, but the psychological weight favors the South African side due to the home-field advantage in the first leg. For AS FAR, the match is not just about a trophy, but about erasing a four-decade gap in their trophy cabinet and re-establishing Moroccan football's presence at the peak of the CAF Champions League.
