Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 6y

Ranking South Africa's top performers in CAF competition

SuperSport United's defeat in the 2017 Confederation Cup final to Tout Puissant Mazembe was a major disappointment for club and country.

However, after supplying a fourth finalist in five years across two CAF competitions, South Africa's influence in club football on the continent is growing.

In this feature, we rank the nation's most prolific clubs down the years since the nations teams first competed in continental tournaments in 1993.

5. Ajax Cape Town

Record: P25 W9 D6 L10 GF28 GA33

They're not a name that you'd expect in the top five, but there was a time that Ajax were regularly in the top two of the South African league (without ever winning the title) and also played in a few FA Cup finals.

They have featured in the Champions League the most times (14 games), making the group stages in 2005.

4. Kaizer Chiefs

Record: P42 W25 D7 L10 GF72 GA33

Chiefs were winners of the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup, but their progress on the continent has been stunted by a ban from competing after they refused to honour a fixture in the Confederation Cup in 2005.

They were barred from playing for three years and since then have not exactly tackled their continental obligations with relish, often fielding under-strength sides.

They have made it clear that they prioritise domestic success over CAF glory, though having found the former hard to come by of late, they're unlikely to have to worry about continental competition any time soon.

3. SuperSport United

Record: P68 W28 D23 L17 GF121 GA79

SuperSport reached a first continental final in 2017, but have also been to the group stages of the Champions League before and have been regular combatants in the Confederation Cup down the years.

Thirty eight of their 68 matches have come in that competition, while they have featured in 26 in the Champions League.

They will be back in the Confederation Cup in 2018, along with new boys Cape Town City, after being crowned South African FA Cup winners this year.

2. Orlando Pirates

Record: P95 W49 D24 L22 GF164 GA87

Pirates were the first South African club to win Africa's elite club competition, then known as the Champions Cup, in 1995, and were also losing finalists in 2013.

They also reached the group stages in 1997 and 2006, claiming a semi-final place in the latter campaign, with 70 of their 95 games in African club competition coming in the Champions League.

They were most recently in the final of the 2015 Confederation Cup, but tasted defeat in that one too.

They are the South African side with the most final appearances, but have just been pipped to top spot in our rankings!

1. Mamelodi Sundowns

Record: P105 W54 D23 L28 GF150 GA103

The 2016 Champions League winners have featured in more CAF club games than any other side, and also have the most wins, with 54.

They were also beaten finalists in Africa's elite club competition in 2001, and this year made the semi finals.

Their 77 matches in the Champions League is more than any other South African team, while their four group phase appearances is also a record for the country.

They have, perhaps surprisingly, made little impact in the other CAF competitions.

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