As is the case this year, Mamelodi Sundowns had to start at home in 2001 against yet another Egyptian club, Al Ahly, after sneaking to the final following a penalty shootout win over Angolan club Petro Atletico in the semi-finals.
Loftus Versfeld was the venue for that first leg played on December 8, 2001.
There was a huge air of expectation at Loftus as Sundowns walked onto the pitch for that final.
That belief was buttressed by the success of Orlando Pirates just six years earlier in the same competition when the Buccaneers were crowned kings of the continent.
The late Ted Dumitru was as calm as ever on the touchline.
Sundowns immediately took charge as the game started and deservedly went ahead after 25 minutes courtesy of a brilliant strike by Zambian import Gift Kampamba.
That opener came just minutes after the hard running Carlo Scott had struck the post after being set up by Daniel Mudau. Simba Marumo directed the rebound wide.
Loftus was in full voice and the Egyptians appeared there for the taking.
Somehow, Sundowns took their foot off the pedal and chose to go for a conservative approach after the break which allowed Al Ahly to slowly find their way back into the game and once they began enjoying more touches on the ball it was only a matter of time before they hit back.
Two minutes before the hour disaster struck when a harmless looking cross from the right found Mohammed Abdehalfi unattended in the box and he gracefully planted his header past a wrong footed John Tlale.
Al Ahly now had the away goal that they had travelled to Pretoria for and just needed to wind down the clock knowing very well that they would be guaranteed victory in front of 100 000 vocal fans at the Cairo International Stadium.
Dumitru then looked to fresh legs, introducing Lucky Qaba for the tiring Mudau and the youthful attacker got going right away as his screamer of a striker was denied by the upright with Sundowns pressing for a winner.
In injury time Qaba negotiated his way between opposition players but after creating space in the box he shot disappointingly wide.
By then The Yellow Nation knew that it was as good as over with most of them already in nearby Sunnyside, Hatfield, Brooklyn and the Pretoria CBD by the time the referee blew the final whistle.
As expected, Sundowns succumbed to Al Ahly in Cairo as the hosts won 3-0 courtesy of a hat-trick from Khaled Bibo.
Bennet Mnguni’s effort struck the upright early on, Marumo’s piercing drive was tipped for a corner with his header moments later coming off the crossbar but Al Ahly always knew how they would wrap that one up.
Bibo converted from the spot with 10 minutes remaining in the first half before adding his second at the break and then completing his hat-trick towards the end of the match.
In the end it was despair for Tlale, Isaac Shai, Dan Semake, Scott, Mudau, Charles Mtlohi, Lovers Mohlala, Mnguni, Fabian McCarthy, Marumo, Michael Manzini, Kampamba, Matthew Booth, Filemon Kanelelo, Alex Bapela, Muisi Ajao, Alain Amougou, Joel Masilela, Joas Magolego, Papi Mbele and S’bongakonke Ndlovu.
There can’t be a repeat of that this time around.
Mamelodi Sundowns must, and will, go up the podium last on Sunday, October 23 at the Borg Al Arab Stadium.