Mamelodi Sundowns Win CAF Champions League as Lucas Ribeiro Is Relegated; Orlando Pirates Lack a Striker, Fans Say He Should Apologise and Return

Lucas Ribeiro’s difficult season in Spain ended in disappointment as Cultural Leonesa were relegated from LaLiga 2 following a 2-0 loss to Burgos on Sunday. The 27-year-old, who left Mamelodi Sundowns after a standout campaign in South Africa, made 26 appearances for the club and contributed four goals and two assists, but his performances were not enough to save the team from the drop. Cultural Leonesa finished on 36 points from 41 matches, with one game still remaining, underscoring the scale of their struggles across the campaign.

Ribeiro’s exit from Sundowns had already been viewed as a bitter one by many supporters, with the reigning Premier Soccer League Player of the Season departing under a cloud after helping light up the league in Chloorkop. His move was seen as the end of a promising chapter at Masandawana, and many fans were left stunned and heartbroken by the way things unfolded. The latest setback in Spain has only added another layer of frustration to a story that continues to divide opinion.

While Ribeiro endured a tough ending in Europe, Sundowns were celebrating a historic achievement of their own. The Tshwane giants went on to lift the CAF Champions League trophy, securing a second star and further strengthening their status as one of African football’s leading clubs. For some fans, Ribeiro’s departure now carries even greater regret, as his quality might have played a role in the club’s continental success had he remained in the squad.

Reaction among supporters has been mixed, with some still lamenting what could have been if the attacker had stayed in South Africa, while others are already speculating about where his next move might take him. His future now appears uncertain after a season that ended in relegation rather than the progress he would have hoped for when he left for Spain.

For Ribeiro, the challenge ahead will be to rebuild momentum after an unhappy spell with Cultural Leonesa. For Sundowns, meanwhile, the contrast could not be sharper: one story ends in disappointment, the other in silverware. The split has become a symbol of how quickly football fortunes can change, leaving both player and club at very different points as the season closes.