Despite not being initially tipped to win the CAF Champions League title, Mamelodi Sundowns eventually proved they deserved the trophy, midfielder Keagan Dolly said after the South Africans became 2016 African champions with a 3-1 aggregate win over Zamalek.

Heading into the return leg at Alexandria's Borg El-Arab Stadium with a three-goal lead in Pretoria, the South Africans only conceded once in the away tie to win their first-ever Champions League title.    

"It was very difficult; Zamalek are a good team," Midfielder Dolly told BeIN Sports  after the game.

 "We had to work well, we started the competition as a side not tipped to win the title but eventually we deserved to be champions."

Teammate striker Khama Billiat also echoed Dolly's statements, relishing the prospect of facing the 'best teams in the world' at the Club World Cup in December.

"It wasn't easy at all, there were difficulties. But now we will be facing the best teams in the world at the Club World Cup," Billiat said.

Sundowns were initially knocked out of the round of 16 at the hands of DR Congo's AS Vita Club, who were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminaries against Zanzibar's Mafunzo.

As a result, Sundowns were given a walk-over win to make it to the group-stage, where they managed to win Group B before going on to win the title.  

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)