Mamelodi Sundowns v Wydad Athletic Club
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Pretoria)
Time: 1 pm, Sunday
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngamba (DR Congo)
The maiden edition of the African Football League will come to an end on Sunday when South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns square off against the warriors Wydad Athletic Club of Morroco.
The first leg saw Wydad win 2-1 at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. The maiden edition of the AFL has lived up to expectations as these two top teams will look forward to ending the competition with a brilliant display.
Lucas Moripe Stadium will be buzzing before kick-off as DJ Maphorisa, Daliwonga and Young Stunna will light up the stadium with electrifying performances.
Head to Head
This fixture is now a regular one on the continent. 13 games played between the two teams since 2017.
Last week’s 2-1 victory was the first game between the two which was not a CAF Champions League match.
Wydad Athletic now has a head-to-head advantage with 5 wins against Mamelodi Sundowns’ 3 with 5 draws.
Mamelodi Sundowns team news
Sundowns have played the African Football League without their deadly duo Peter Shalulile and Lucas Costa. The two forwards have been sidelined through injuries and it remains unknown whether they will be fit for the return fixture.
“We will wait and see. There are two training sessions and we’ll follow the instructions from the medical department” said Rulani Mokwena on Peter Shalulile, the Namibian forward.
He continued, ” In the first leg, the players gave everything and we will try to write our names in history in the second leg”.
Mokwena will have plenty of talented players at his disposal even if Shalulile and Costa are not passed fit.
Probable line up
4-3-3
William (GK)
Coetzee, Mokoena, Kekena, Botouil (DF)
Mudau, Allende, Modiba (MDF)
Zwane, Maseko, Zirino (Forwards)
Wydad Athletic Club team news
Wydad has been one of the most consistent performers on the continent with two back-to-back finals in the last 2 CAF Champions League seasons.
Last season, they eliminated Sundowns in the semi-finals via the away goal rule. The Masandawan know how difficult their opponents are.
Adil Ramzi has in a short period made Wydad a difficult team to break down.
“It’s a significant game and everyone wants to win it. We won in Casablanca but it’s still 50/50. We are facing a strong team but we are ready”, said the 46-year-old Moroccan coach.
Wydad visits Sundowns with almost a fully fit squad.
Probable line up
4-3-3
Yousef El Motie (GK)
El Amloud, Aboulfath, Harkass, Attiyat Allah (DF)
Jabrane, Lahtimi, Draoui (MDF)
Boussefiane, El Bahri, Abdallah (FW)
Predictions
Mamelodi Sundowns can’t afford to sit back because they are down by 2-1 hence Rulani Mokwena will open up with the view of scoring goals. Wydad on the other hand will try to sit back and hit the Masandawana on the break.
Expect goals in this fixture.
Sundowns 3-1 Wydad
