They have climbed to the top of the Confederation of African Football’s club ranking for next season, which will make them the top seeds for the 2026-27 Champions League.
The rankings weigh points for performance over the last five years of African club competition, and in Sundowns’ case, they have reached two finals, both this and last year, two semi-finals, and one quarter-final.
With more points to be gained if they win the two-legged final over AS FAR, Sundowns already have 68 points, two more than Egypt giants Al Ahly and 10 more than third-placed Esperance of Tunisia, who they beat in the quarter-finals last year and the semis in this campaign.
Orlando Pirates, who have qualified again for the Champions League next season, are ranked in 19th place after reaching the semi-final last year and in 2022 making it all the way to the African Confederation Cup final, where they lost to Raja Casablanca.
Stellenbosch (24th), Marumo Gallants (37th), Kaizer Chiefs (39th), Sekhukhune United (58th), and AmaZulu (69th) are also in the rankings, having got to the group phase of continental club competition over the last five years.
Chiefs will play continental football again next season in the CAF Confederation Cup after they secured third place in the Betway Premiership this season.
The only real benefit for Sundowns from being top of the rankings is that if there are any byes in next year’s first round, when they will be the first team to automatically progress through to the next round, saving them two games.
It will also see them seeded in the first pot for the group phase draw if they get through the preliminary knockout round.
CAF also has five-year rankings for countries, which are used to determine which 12 nations get to have two teams entered in both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
The rankings are also compiled by points awarded for achievement by clubs from those countries over the preceding five years of continental club competition, with the points weighted so that more recent achievement counts more.
South Africa were third in the standings at the start of this season, with 131 points behind Egypt on 190 and Morocco on 142.
For next season, however, South Africa could be overtaken by Algeria and slip to fourth after USM Alger won this weekend’s Confederation Cup final, and should Sundowns lose to AS FAR.