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Tunisian side Esperance and South African club Mamelodi Sundowns have secured their places at next year’s FIFA Club World Cup (Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™) after their TotalEnergies CAF Champions League semi-final matches on Friday.
Esperance and Sundowns have completed the list of African qualifiers to play in the inaugural Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™ (FIFA Club World Cup 2025), becoming the third and fourth CAF teams to book their tickets.
The Tunisian side completed a 2-0 aggregate win over Sundowns on Friday night to set up a stunning two-legged final clash with Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Esperance’s progress to the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League means they are guaranteed at least a place in the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States next June and July via the qualification route.
However, they still have a chance to qualify as African champions by beating Al Ahli over two legs on May 18 and 25.
Sundowns may have failed in their bid to reach the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, but their performances over the past four years have ensured they too will feature in the inaugural edition of the revamped global club competition.
The competition will feature four representatives from CAF, with Al Ahly and Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca already booked as Champions League winners in 2021, 2023 and 2022 respectively.
Even if Esperance fail to beat Al Ahly in the final, the Tunisian side will still occupy one of the two remaining CAF spots thanks to their form in recent campaigns.
Sundowns, meanwhile, complete Africa’s top four despite their semi-final exit, earning entry by ranking as one of the continent’s most successful teams over the past four seasons.
The new FIFA Club World Cup aims to determine a legitimate world champion by showcasing the elite teams from each confederation in a summer showpiece.
Four African teams at the Club World Cup
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Wydad (Morocco)
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Al Ahly (Egypt)
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Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
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ES Tunis (Tunisia)