Raja Casablanca travel to South Africa on Sunday for a highly anticipated meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the 2026 CAF Champions League final.
The match will be played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where Sundowns are expected to benefit from strong home support and difficult playing conditions that have historically troubled many visiting Arab teams.
The South African side enter the final determined to make amends after losing in last season’s CAF Champions League final, while Raja Casablanca are aiming to secure a long-awaited continental title.
For the Moroccan club, victory would represent their first African crown since the 1980s, adding further significance to one of the biggest matches in recent club history.
Sundowns, meanwhile, are attempting to recover from a disappointing domestic campaign in which they lost the league title to Orlando Pirates, ending an eight-year period of league dominance.
The pressure surrounding the South African club has therefore intensified, with the Champions League now representing their final opportunity to secure major silverware this season.
The opening leg of the final is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
Kick-off is set for 3pm Moroccan time and 5pm local time in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The match will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS through the encrypted beIN SPORTS 2 HD channel.
Supporters will also be able to follow the match through the Tod application and the beIN CONNECT streaming service.
Both clubs are expected to approach the match cautiously while still attempting to establish an advantage ahead of the return leg.
Raja Casablanca coach Santos is reportedly preparing to rely on an attacking front three featuring Ahmed Hammoudan, Abdel Fattah Hadraf and Youssef El Fahli.
The Moroccan side are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Reda Tagnaouti in goal behind a defence consisting of Carneiro, Anas Bach, Mendy and Marouane El Ouadni.
Midfield responsibilities are expected to fall to Mbemba, Mohamed Harimat and Reda Slim.
Sundowns are also expected to deploy an attacking 4-3-3 system for the home encounter.
The South African side could feature Ronwen Williams in goal, with Mwadu, Cupido, Kinana and Longa forming the defensive line.
In midfield, Morena, Mokwena and Adams are expected to provide balance and control, while the attacking trio is likely to include Allende, Sells and Leon.
The final brings together two clubs facing very different forms of pressure.
For Raja Casablanca, the challenge lies in overcoming one of Africa’s strongest home teams and ending a lengthy wait for continental success.
For Sundowns, the final represents an opportunity to restore pride after domestic disappointment and avoid ending the season without a major trophy.
With both sides desperate for success, the first leg in Pretoria is expected to play a crucial role in determining the direction of the 2026 CAF Champions League final.
