Sundowns and Al Ahly renew recent rivalry in Pretoria
Venue: Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium (Pretoria)
Kick-off Time: Saturday 19th April (1 pm)
Referee: Omar Artan (Somalia)
The continent will stop doing anything and pay much attention to what will happen at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe’s Stadium in Pretoria on Easter Saturday.
The distance from Cairo to Pretoria is 5,851 miles (9416 km), which takes about 115 hours and 19 minutes to drive. Yes, it is a very long distance but the ultras of Al Ahly won’t mind and will make the long trip to support their beloved Red Devils in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The two of the best teams on the continent will renew their modern-day rivalry. Al Ahly is undoubtedly the most successful club on the African continent but has been finding it difficult to deal with Mamelodi Sundowns easily, who have risen to the top recently.
The 5-0 smashing in 2019 by the Masandawana will always live with the Egyptians as it is their heaviest-ever defeat on the continent.
Sundowns are not afraid of Al Ahly as none of the two is yet to win the battle of who has the biggest mentality over the other.
Head coach of Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso, in his first season as a coach on the continent, lost to Al Ahly narrowly in the finals of the CAF Champions League with Esperance Sportive du Tunis last season.
The Portuguese tactician, in his short stay on the continent, has learned a lot and knows when to attack and when exactly to defend. He is always after defensive solidity and real discipline as these two key elements drive teams forward on the African continent. Sundowns have conceded just three goals in the entire campaign (8 matches).
His side’s elimination of Esperance shows how tactically brilliant he is. Facing Al Ahly at this stage is the ultimate hard job because this is where the defending champions tend to up their game.
Marcel Koller (64) has won the last two CAF Champions League titles and understands perfectly how to win the competition. The danger posed by South African clubs can never be underestimated because Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch have all conquered North African clubs this season.
Al Ahly has a very strong spine of El Shenawy, Mohammed Hany, Rami Rabia, Emam Ashour, El Shahat and Abou Ali to count on even in the middle of transition. The Egyptians have not been the vintage side we know after being 7 points behind Pyramids who leads the Egyptian Premier League table.
A trip to Sundowns did not come at the right time because the Red Devils have not hit top form yet. Mamelodi Sundowns look like the favourites to win the first league, especially playing at home with thousands of yellow voices cheering them on.
Head to Head-2-Head
The two teams’ last meeting was in the African Football League when the South Africans won 1-0 on aggregate. The rest of their meetings have been in the CAF Champions League.
In total, the teams have met 16 times since 2001. Both teams have 5 wins apiece with 6 draws.
Probable line ups
Sundowns
4-2-3-1
Ronwen Williams (GK)
Khuliso Mudau (RB), Aubrey Modiba (LB), Grant Kekana (RCB), Lucas Suarez (LCB)
Marcelo Allende, Teboho Mokoena (DM)
Lucas Ribeiro (RWF), Jayden Adams (AM), Thapelo Morena (LWF)
Peter Shalulile (CF)
Head coach: Miguel Cardozo (Portugal)
Al Ahly
4-2-3-1
Mohamed El Shenawy (GK)
Attiyat Allal (LB), Mohamed Hany (RB), Ramy Rabia 9LCB), Achraf Dari (RCB)
Akram Tawfik, Marwan Ateya (DM)
Hussein El Shahat (RWF), Achraf Bencharki (LWF), Emam Ashour (AM))
Wessam Abou Ali (CF)
Head coach: Marcel Koller (Switzerland)
Prediction
Sundowns 2-1 Al Ahly
