Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Stellenbosch are flying the South African flag proudly across the continent. Special mention to Fadlu Davids and his all-South African technical team, who’ve also reached the CAFCC semi-finals with Simba. Here are 10 stats from a historiC week in CAF.
On the PSL in general
3 - This is the first time three South African teams have reached the semi-final stage of CAF's inter-club competitions in the same season.
0 - All three PSL teams did not concede a goal in the quarter-finals (all three won 1-0 & 0-0). PSL teams have not conceded a goal in their last 11 quarter-final matches on the continent (6 x Sundowns, 2 x Pirates, 2 x Stellies, 1 x Marumo Gallants). In the first 35 CAF quarter-finals, PSL kept 10 clean sheets 1993-2032).
1 - In Pirates & Sundowns, this is also the first time in history that two South African teams are in the semi-finals of the same CAF inter-club competition in one season.
On Orlando Pirates
100% - Pirates have now progressed from all six CAF knock-out ties, where they won the first leg at the quarter-final stage or later.
7 - Pirates have reached their seventh continental semi-final, joint-level with Sundowns among South African clubs.
Most continental semi-finals by South African teams
7 - Pirates
7 - Sundowns
2 - Kaizer Chiefs
1 - Jomo Cosmos, SuperSport, Marumo Gallants
0 - Pirates are the only remaining team yet to lose a game in the Champions League this season (P12 W8 D4 L0 including qualifiers.)
On Sundowns
6 - Sundowns have reached the semifinals of the CAF Champions League for the sixth time, more than any other PSL side in the competition's history. They are the first SA team to reach the semis on three consecutive occasions.
7/8 - Sundowns have now progressed from seven of the eight CAF knock-out ties after winning the first leg at the quarter-final stage or later.
On Stellenbosch
1 - Stellenbosch has progressed to the Last 4 in their first-ever CAF participation. The last PSL side to reach the Last 4 in their debut CAF season was Marumo Gallants in 2022/23, who also faced a Tanzanian team in the semis (Yanga).
1 - Stellies are the first South African team to keep a clean sheet in an away game to Zamalek, with four previous PSL visiting sides conceding at least once.
