As Mamelodi Sundowns prepare to host ASFAR in the CAF Champions League final first leg on Sunday, midfielder Nuno Santos has delivered a clear message – the past is irrelevant.
There is a particular kind of mental strength required to park disappointment and channel it into something greater.
As Sundowns gear up for Sunday’s historic CAF Champions League final first leg against Morocco’s ASFAR at Loftus Versfeld, it is a quality that Santos appears to have in abundance.
The Brazilians enter the tie under a cloud of domestic uncertainty. A 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy earlier in the week has left Orlando Pirates needing just three points from their remaining two games to draw level with the defending Premiership champions – and with a vastly superior goal difference, that scenario would almost certainly end eight seasons of Sundowns dominance.
It is a painful reality for a club accustomed to sweeping all before them on the local stage. But Santos, for one, is refusing to look back.
“We are top of the log right now, that’s what we know — but as I said before, we cannot change what happened before, so our focus is totally on the Champions League, that’s what we can do to change whatever comes,” the midfielder said.
“There’s total focus on the final of the Champions League. We want to win, the players want to win, the club wants to win this trophy – to give that joy for our fans, our supporters, and that’s what we’re working to do.”
It is the kind of clarity that defines a player who understands the magnitude of the moment. Sundowns are chasing a second continental crown – having last lifted the trophy in 2016.
While ASFAR are seeking to end a 41-year wait since their only title in 1985. The stakes could hardly be higher, and Santos knows it.
His composure is not merely words. When asked about moving on from the Galaxy defeat, Santos was equally unambiguous.
“Every game is difficult, not just this one – but like the previous games in the Champions League, no game is easy for us. We know the responsibility we have and we’ve moved our focus on what’s coming, which is the first leg of the Champions League. So we cannot do anything to change what happened before. Total focus on the first leg at Loftus.,” he stated.
That responsibility is one Santos has embraced all season on the continental stage. The Portuguese playmaker has been a revelation since his arrival at Sundowns, racking up eight goal contributions in nine CAF Champions League appearances.
He has scored three goals and contributed five assists, turning provider for teammates with his ability to spot a pass and his excellence from dead-ball situations.
His fingerprints have been all over Sundowns’ run to the final. Santos was among the scorers as Sundowns beat Remo Stars 2-0 in the home leg of their second-round tie. In the group stage, he scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Saint Eloi Lupopo.
In a campaign that has not always been straightforward – Sundowns finished as runners-up in Group C behind Al Hilal, needing a final-day home win over MC Alger just to advance – Santos has been a consistent creative force when his side needed him most.
Alongside compatriot Miguel Reisinho, Chilean Marcelo Allende, Colombian Brayan Leon, and Brazilian Arthur Sales, Santos is part of a Portuguese-speaking contingent that has made Sundowns one of the most potent attacking units on the continent this season.
It is a cosmopolitan blend that head coach Miguel Cardoso – himself Portuguese – has woven into a formidable unit.
Now comes the biggest test. The only previous meetings between these two sides came in the 2024/25 group stage, with both encounters ending 1-1. ASFAR are no strangers to Sundowns, and Sunday’s hosts know exactly what a well-organised Moroccan side looks like.
Sundowns have never lost at home to Moroccan opposition – winning five and drawing four of their nine home ties – but have also never won away in Morocco, suffering six defeats in nine visits. Building a lead at Loftus is not just an ambition; it is a strategic necessity.
The winners of the final will pocket $6 million – a 50% increase on previous prize money – following confirmation from CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.
And for the Sundowns faithful packing out Loftus on Sunday, the financial reward will matter far less than the chance to see their club reclaim Africa’s crown.
For Nuno Santos, the mission is simple and singular. Whatever has happened domestically, whatever doubts swirl around Sundowns’ season – there is one final, two legs, and a chance to etch his name into the club’s continental history. The past, as he keeps reminding everyone, cannot be changed. But Sunday at Loftus very much can.