Mamelodi Sundowns kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a historic 1-0 victory over South Korean side Ulsan HD on Tuesday.
The win, powered by Iqraam Rayners’ first-half goal, puts the South African champions atop Group F and marks the first-ever win for an African team in the expanded tournament.
The match, delayed by an hour due to weather, saw coach Miguel Cardoso praise his team’s “wonderful job.”
Despite Ulsan’s efforts to equalize in the second half, Sundowns held firm, with Cardoso noting the pride in this “first victory of an African team in the tournament.”
This significant win is also Sundowns’ first in any version of the Club World Cup, setting a positive precedent for their tournament journey.
