Conrad Harder (l.), Assan Ouedraogo (c.) and Castello Lukeba (r.) are all part of RB Leipzig's tour squad. - © Boris Streubel

bundesliga

RB Leipzig embark on post-season tour to South Africa

26.05.2026

Fresh after finishing third in the 2025/26 Bundesliga, RB Leipzig are taking in South Africa on a post-season tour that will see them train in Johannesburg before facing Mamelodi Sundowns in a friendly in Pretoria on Friday (kick-off 8pm CEST).

Leipzig departed Germany on Monday 25 May and arrived the following morning in Johannesburg, where they will base themselves for the majority of the tour at the Wits Academy.

Among a variety of planned activities is a public training session at the university's rugby stadium on Thursday.

Friday then sees a high-profile friendly in Pretoria's Lucas Moripe Stadium against freshly crowned CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns (kick-off 8pm CEST and local time) with tickets available here.

While several players are unable to make the tour as they are preparing for the FIFA World Cup, Leipzig coach Ole Werner has still assembled a star-filled squad of 16 first-team and 10 academy players.

Goalkeepers: Péter Gulácsi, Leopold Zingerle, Franz Hantschmann, János Kányai

Defenders: Willi Orbán, El Chadaille Bitshiabu, Lukas Klostermann, Castello Lukeba, Max Finkgräfe, Benjamin Henrichs, Lionel Voufack, Warren Ngana

Midfielders: Ezechiel Banzuzi, Brajan Gruda, Assan Ouédraogo, Yohan Ngatcheu, Benno Kaltefleiter, Toni Langsteiner, Manuel Abbey

Attackers: Johan Bakayoko, Conrad Harder, Suleman Sani, Tidiam Gomis, Rômulo, Samba Konaté, Abdul Al-Khalaf

Follow the latest from the tour live!

Touchdown!

Leipzig landed in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning to be greeted by traditional dancers at the airport. The day's schedule clearly shows they are not in South Africa for a holiday - they are heading straight to the gym for a session, before a cricket workshop and a visit to a safe space for children and teenagers, which includes the start of the Bundesliga Night League tonight.

Super Sundowns

Leipzig face a tough test in Friday's friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns as the Pretoria-based club have just lifted the second CAF Champions League in club history thanks to a 2-1 aggregate win against AS FAR in the final.

Werner names his 26

Leipzig are travelling with a party of 16 first-team players and ten academy players. Their six players due for action at the FIFA World Cup are absent, as are Vandevoordt, Baku, Maksimović and Nedeljković. The stars on board include Willi Orbán, Castello Lukeba, Brajan Gruda, Assan Ouédraogo and Rômulo.

How's that?

Leipzig plan to sample some of the local sporting culture while in South Africa - namely cricket and rugby. There will be a joint training session with the Vodacom Bulls rugby team, along with a Pantsula dance workshop, while there will be also chances to meet and inspire local children.

RE KAOFELA

The local phrase means "all together" and is the motto of Leipzig's tour, which will see them set off for Johannesburg on Monday 25 May. They will base themselves at Wits Academy in the Braamfontein district before heading to Pretoria for a friendly against this season's African Champions League winners, Mamelodi Sundowns.