Chiefs and Sundowns Ladies Crowned Kings and Queens at Engen Champ of Champs 2026

Gauteng ruled the 2026 Engen Champ of Champs, with Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies both reclaiming titles they last lifted back in 2024 — and doing it in style.

Amakhosi’s youth take the U18 Boys crown

Chiefs weren’t at their most convincing throughout the tournament — grinding out a tight 1-0 semi-final win over a stubborn Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town — but the final was a different story entirely. Mpumalanga’s East High Boys Academy, who’d fought their way through on penalties against AmaZulu, simply had no answer, as Chiefs ran out comfortable 3-0 winners to seal the title.

Sundowns Ladies: perfect, and unbeatable

If Chiefs’ route had a few bumps, Sundowns Ladies’ campaign was flawless in every sense — six matches, six wins, zero goals conceded. Masandawana demolished Superstrikers Ladies FC 3-0 in the semi-final before meeting RV United, who’d scraped past Ixias Ladies 1-0 to reach the final. RV United simply couldn’t live with Sundowns’ class, going down 2-0 as the Pretoria side completed a genuinely dominant tournament.

Why this stage matters

Once again, Champ of Champs lived up to its reputation as “Where Diski Legends Start” — a tournament that keeps producing the kind of talent South African football will be talking about for years to come.

The standout performers

On the boys’ side, Kaizer Chiefs didn’t just win the title — they swept the individual honours too. Malibongwe Mshali picked up both Striker and Player of the Tournament, while teammates Tashiel Rugananan (Defender) and Lebohang Dlamini (Midfielder) also took home top honours. Chiefs also dominated the scoring charts, with Shaun Els, Lebohang Dhlamini and Tshiamo Mosana all among the tournament’s top goalscorers. East High Academy’s Lesley Netshivembe was named Coach of the Tournament, with his side also claiming the Fairplay award — fitting, given how far they pushed Chiefs in the final.

On the girls’ side, it was a near-clean sweep for Mamelodi Sundowns. Lebogang Buthane was named both Player of the Tournament and Top Goal Scorer, with Sethabile Kwamwande (Defender) and Siphesihle Magazi (Midfielder) also picking up individual awards. RV United’s Vuyolwethu Kayi claimed Coach of the Tournament despite the final result, while Ixias Ladies were recognised for Fairplay.

Another Champ of Champs down — and another group of future stars put on notice.