Ten stats from a historic CAF moment for PSL sides

Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Stellenbosch all contributed to a historic week in South African football as they all progressed to the semi-finals of CAF’S interclub competitions last week. The three South African representatives in continental competition are flying the flag proudly across the continent, eliminating the likes of traditional African giants Esperance and Zamalek in the space of 24 hours. Add Fadlu Davids taking Tanzanian side Simba to the Confederations Cup Last 4 and a Bafana Bafana side enjoying their longest ever unbeaten run, and you can understand how the mood around South African football has changed for the better in the last year. Here are ten stats from the recent continental action.

On the PSL in general

Before getting to the individual teams, a special mention must be made of the PSL in general. The Royal AM issue has threatened to be the dominant narrative around South African football, but that is slowly changing. The emergence of PSL sides as a force is long overdue, given our resources compared to other teams on the continent, so it is great to see potential being turned into tangible results.

3 – This is the first time three South African teams have reached the semi-final stage of CAF’s inter-club competitions in the same season. In Pirates & Sundowns, this is also the first time in history that two South African teams are in the semi-finals of the same CAF inter-club competition in one season.

0 – All three PSL teams did not concede a goal in the quarter-finals (all three won 1-0 & 0-0). PSL teams have not conceded a goal in their last 10 quarter-final matches on the continent (6 x Sundowns, 2 x Pirates, 2 x Stellies).

Orlando Pirates

The Buccaneers had to hold off MC Alger in a hotly fought battle at Orlando Stadium. Ultimately, the 1-0 first leg victory from Algeria proved decisive, leaving them just two steps away from a second Champions League title.

100% – Orlando Pirates have now progressed from all six CAF knock-out ties, where they won the first leg at the quarter-final stage or later.

7 – Orlando Pirates have reached their seventh continental semi-final, joint-level with Sundowns among South African clubs.
● 7 – Pirates
● 7 – Sundowns
● 2 – Kaizer Chiefs
● 1 – Jomo Cosmos, SuperSport, Marumo Gallants

0 – Orlando Pirates are the only remaining team yet to lose a game in the Champions League this season (P12 W8 D4 L0 including qualifiers).

Sundowns

Like Pirates, the defending league champions did the damage in the first leg. In edging Esperance 1-0 at home, Downs knew that a 0-0 would take them through in the second. And that is exactly what they got, away to a hostile crowd in Tunis.

3 – Sundowns are the first PSL side to reach the semi-final stage of the Champions League in three consecutive seasons, having done so in 2022/23, 2023/24, and now 2024/25.

6 – Sundowns have reached the semifinals of the CAF Champions League for the sixth time, more than any other PSL side in the competition’s history.

7/8 – Sundowns have now progressed from seven of the eight CAF knock-out ties after winning the first leg at the quarter-final stage or later.

Stellenbosch

They may be the newest/youngest of the teams in CAF, but Stellies went about qualifying the more difficult way. A 0-0 home result in the first-leg is never a bad idea, and it laid the foundation for Sihle Nduli’s decisive goal in the second leg away.

1 – Stellenbosch have progressed to the Last 4 in their first-ever CAF participation. The last PSL side to reach the Last 4 in their debut CAF season was Marumo Gallants in 2022/23.

1 – Stellies are the first South African team to keep a clean sheet in an away game to Zamalek, with four previous PSL visiting sides conceding at least once.