Allende: FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup Win Just the Start For Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende says winning the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup is just the start of an ambitious silverware hunt this season, particularly on the domestic front.

Sundowns captured the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup by defeating AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli SC 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.

The victory sees Sundowns advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, where they will face the winner of the FIFA Derby of the Americas—contested between Mexican side Toluca and the eventual CONMEBOL Libertadores champions—for a place in the final against UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.

Following the FIFA international break, Sundowns shift focus to the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates on 10 October, with Allende setting his sights on adding to their early silverware.

“We set targets for every competition, especially the local ones,” Allende told Sundowns media.

“We’ve got the first one in the bag, and now we continue hunting for the rest.”

Siyanda Ndlovu, who earned his first major senior trophy after coming off the bench in the second half against the Asian champions, was thrilled with the win and echoed Allende’s hunger for more titles.

“I’m targeting all of them,” said Ndlovu.

“Now that we’ve started with this one, we have to keep going.”

The former Golden Arrows attacker, who joined Sundowns during the off-season, couldn’t resist a subtle swipe: “This is a FIFA trophy, not an ordinary one.”

With Sundowns just one match away from a dream FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against PSG, Ndlovu confirmed that reaching the showpiece match remains the ultimate objective—a sentiment shared by teammate Teboho Mokoena, who set up Nuno Santos’ opening goal from a short corner.

“That is what we want—PSG,” Ndlovu added.