Analysis: Sundowns empire dilapidating as Mokwena prophesied?

With Mamelodi Sundowns about to surrender South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) championship, which they retained for eight consecutive seasons, one cannot help but reflect on what their former coach Rulani Mokwena once forewarned about the yellow empire of Arcadia.

Sensing that the Tshwane giants had become so familiar with winning the PSL title that they were beginning to treat it with inevitable contempt, the youthful football prophet issued a caution. betsport.cv

In 2024, the now Al Ittihad SC mentor said: “Empires don’t collapse; they dilapidate bit by bit.” Is this prophecy now about to be fulfilled, now that Masandawa wound up the season on 68 points after losing 3-2 to TS Galaxy on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, leaving second-place Orlando Pirates on 65 points with two games in hand?

If this is the dilapidation Mokwena forewarned about, let the number of points the Tshwane outfit accumulated to claim the Betway Premiership crown in the previous campaigns of utter dominance vindicate him or not.

Points tally for Sundowns since the 2019-2020 season

2025-2026: 68 points

2024-2025:73 points

2023-2024: 73 points

2022-2023: 70 points

2021-2022: 65 points

2020-2021: 67 points

2019-2020: 59 points

What the points’ tally tells us

So, what these statistics tell us is that the defending champions have failed to reach the 70-point tally for the first time since the 2021-2022 season.

On the other hand, their two losses for the entire season are consistent with their average in the previous five seasons. In July 2024, when Miguel Cardoso took over the reign from Mokoena, Masandawana finished the season with three defeats and one draw.

This compared to one loss and seven draws (2023-2024), seven draws and two defeats (2022-2023), three defeats and eight draws (2021-2022), 10 draws and one loss (2020-2021), and eight draws and five defeats (2020).

Pirates closing gap on dominant Sundowns

One thing that cannot be ignored in this Betway Premiership season is the obvious improvement of the close pursuers, Pirates. They are closing in on the gulf in class from Sundowns.

Last season, the gap in points from Sundowns to the runner-up Pirates was 14 points. In 2024, it was 17 points away from the same Buccaneers, 14 points for 2023 again from the second-place Soweto giants, 14 points for 2022 (Pirates) and13 points in 2021 (Pirates), and two points away from Kaizer Chiefs in 2020.

A blessing in disguise ahead of the CAF Champions League final?

Could this perhaps be a blessing in disguise for Sundowns to fully immerse themselves in the two-legged CAF Champions League final against AS Rabat?

Club chairman Tlhope Motsepe suggested so on Tuesday. He was quoted as saying: “…now it’s up to us to look forward and try our best to bring the energy and bring the joy next week when we play in the final for the Champions League.”

While the mood around Pretoria is now one of utter dejection, the vibe might be totally different if Miguel Cardoso wins the Champions League title.

Last season, the Portuguese mentor missed the championship by 90 minutes after falling short against eventual champions Pyramids FC. The Yellow Empire is in its most prophetic weeks in recent history.

Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman are the champions of the Rwanda Premier League (BK Pro League) following the guest club’s 2-1 victory over Gasogi United at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Wednesday.

Kamaradini Mamudu did just enough to muscle the ball over the line in the 15th minute for The Blue Wave and Sudan national team midfielder Walieldin Khidir’s second half penalty kick put the newly-crowned champions beyond reach. Gasogi United scored a late consolation from the spot in the 89th minute.

The result continues an unbeaten streak in the Rwandan top flight that is now at eleven games for the 2025-26 CAF Champions League quarterfinalists, with a decisive 4-0 victory over last season’s champions APR FC making it only a matter of time before the job was finished.

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For the second consecutive season, Hilal have featured as a guest club in another country’s top flight and captured the title. Last season, they competed in Mauritania’s Super D1 and won the title before making their way to Kigali this season due to the ongoing war in Sudan.

More work lies ahead for Al Hilal to qualify for CAF interclub competition

However, like last season, their accomplishment does not qualify them for the CAF Champions League. Al Hilal had to compete in a mini-league organized by Sudanese football to confirm participation in continental competition and it has already been confirmed by the Rwanda Premier League that the champions will have to do something similar this season.

Former English Premier League great Benjani Mwaruwari won his third game in charge of Highlanders FC as they beat in-form hosts HardRock FC 1-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) fixture on Wednesday.

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Going into the 12th round at Chahwanda Stadium, the former Manchester City and Portsmouth FC forward had to deal with never-ending administrative issues, including reports of players’ unpaid dues.

However, once the action started, Bosso got the business done on the road much to the delight of the Premier League legend, whose side occupies 10^th place in the Castle Lager PSL standings, seven points behind leaders CAPS United FC.

Sibanda gives Highlanders reason to believe

Highlanders FC’s victory was all thanks to substitute Reason Sibanda’s 70^th-minute stunning acrobatic strike, 41 minutes after replacing injured Shelton Moyo.

In Harare, 10-man MWOS FC showed strength in character to hold CAPS United to a 2-2 draw at Rufaro Stadium. Makepekepe have a two-point cushion at the top of the table ahead of second-placed HardRock.

Another match saw Ngezi Platinum Stars and TelOne FC sharing the spoils at 1-1, just like Manica Dynamos versus Hunters FC as well as Triangle United and Bulawayo Chiefs.

CAPS United FC drop points, Scottland FC edge bottom side

Elsewhere, holders Scottland FC returned to winning ways after edging bottom-placed AGAMA FC 2-1 at Wadzanai Stadium.

Walter Musona gets on the scoresheet as Scottland FC doubles the advantage to make it 2-0 against Agama FC pic.twitter.com/s2iWNBlMsc

— Castle Lager PSL ZW (@CastleLagerPSL) May 13, 2026

Goals from Tymon Machope, courtesy of Knowledge Musona’s assist, and captain Walter Musona’s strike both in the opening half secured the maximum points for Norman Mapeza’s team. Grey Kufandada snatched the consolation goal for the rookies.

In other games played on Wednesday, Simba Bhora, the 2024 champions, lost 1-0 to Chicken Inn FC as FC Platinum beat TelOne FC 1-0.

League Table

Lates log standings:

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— Castle Lager PSL ZW (@CastleLagerPSL) May 13, 2026

L’Égypte a entamé sa campagne lors de la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations, CAN U17 2026 sur une note mitigée. Les Pharaons cadets ont été tenus en échec (0-0) par une vaillante équipe éthiopienne ce mercredi, lors de la première journée du tournoi organisé au Maroc. Un résultat décevant pour les Égyptiens, largement dominants mais incapables de concrétiser leurs nombreuses occasions.

Malgré une possession et un volume de jeu largement à leur avantage, les coéquipiers du sélectionneur Hussein Abdel Latif ont buté sur une défense éthiopienne bien organisée et un gardien inspiré. Le poteau a même sauvé l’Éthiopie à plusieurs reprises, tandis que l’Égypte a vu deux de ses tentatives dont une frappe puissante d’Abdulaziz Khaled à la 51e minute, terminer leur course sur le bois. Ahmed Safwat a eu la plus belle opportunité en première période pour l’Égypte, se présentant seul face au mais après une erreur défensive du camp adverse, sans parvenir à ouvrir le score. En toute fin de rencontre, Mohamed Jamal a également été stoppé par un arrêt décisif du port éthiopien.

FULL-TIME!

It ends goalless between Egypt and Ethiopia in their #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 opener. pic.twitter.com/fRbYdafKlc

— CAF Online (@CAF_Online) May 13, 2026

Dans le temps additionnel, les deux bancs ont réclamé l’intervention de la VAR pour des situations litigieuses dans la surface, sans que l’arbitre ne désigne de pénalité. Un match frustrant pour l’Égypte.

Ahmed Safwat brille lors de l’entrée en lice de l’Égypte et remporte le trophée TotalEnergies d’Homme du Match. #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 | @Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/2R7U3kBgn4

— CAF – FR (@caf_online_FR) May 13, 2026

Malgré le score vierge, l’un des cadets des Pharaons est particulièrement brillant. Le milieu offensif Ahmed Safwat a été élu Homme du Match récompensant sa performance complète, son activité incessante et sa capacité à créer le danger tout au long de la rencontre. Un trophée mérité qui offre un peu de positif à l’Égypte dans un match où l’efficacité a cruellement manqué.

La finale de la Coupe d’Italie opposera cette année la Lazio Rome et l’Inter Milan. Le match est prévu à 19H00 GMT à l’Estadio Olimpico de Rome ce mercredi. Sur quelle chaîne tv suivre ce match en direct ? Déjà sacré champion, l’Inter Milan compte bien réaliser le doublé Coupe championnat cette année, comme ce fut déjà le cas lors de la saison 2022-2023. Mais attention, en face il y a la Lazio qui rêve du trophée depuis 2019. Les locaux veulent jouer une compétition européenne tout au moins, et donc il faut gagner. Sur quelle chaîne tv suivre ce match en direct ? Le match Lazio – Inter Milan est à suivre en direct sur les chaînes tv comme DAZN TV, Canal+ et beIN Sport.

L’article Coupe d’Italie – Finale : Lazio – Inter Milan, sur quelle chaîne tv suivre ce match en direct ? est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.