Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena says his side have done their homework as they seek the point they need against Al-Hilal on Saturday to qualify for the CAF Champions League quarterfinals with a game to spare.
Sundowns are in Khartoum to face the Sudanese side, who held them to a 0-0 draw in a group fixture played there just last season.
The Brazilians are also seeking to become the first South African side ever to get a win in Sudan.
“They [Al-Hilal] need a win, they changed their structure against Al-Merreikh where they also needed a win,” Mokwena says. “They played a different formation where they had two strikers on top.
“Initially throughout the group phase they have always had that 4-2-3-1. But that is it, we will see what happens. We have done our work, we have analysed their last four games since they played us.
“They are a very interesting team with very good players, some are familiar that we know like [former Baroka FC midfielder] Gerald Phiri Jnr and Abdul Ajagun, who was at Cape Town City. They are a good team, a well-coached team and we expect a very difficult game.”
Mokwena admits the training ground they have been given is not the best, but reveals that is no surprise.
“It is not the best of facilities, but you expect that. We got a community field. It is OK, it is what we have, and we must make do.”
Meanwhile Al Ahly face a must-win Group A match away to Sudan’s Al Merrikh on Friday evening which could go a long way in determining their continued participation in the tournament.
The Red Devils have suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in the past two Matchdays, leaving them in a three-way tie (on four points) with Sudanese sides Merrikh and Al Hilal – with Sundowns way out in front (10 points) and all but certain to claim one of the two quarterfinals berths available in Group A.
Ahly will have an advantage for this ‘away’ clash given that it will take place in their own stadium in Cairo, due to Merrikh’s lack of a CAF-approved home venue, and manager Pitso Mosimane has insisted that his team will put their losses to his former club behind them and qualify for the knockout rounds.
“All the time, group stages will deceive you,” said the South African tactician. “We have the experience of the group stages…look at what happened in the last two, three years [after struggling in group stages, they went on to claim the trophy in 2020 and 2021]. You can win six out of six and finish top of the group, let’s go to the knockout phase and the semifinals.”
Elsewhere AmaZulu will be looking to keep their CAF Champions League dream alive when they welcome Raja Casablanca to the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday evening.
Usuthu failed to convert their chances in Algeria as they lost 2-0 to ES Setif on matchday four, which has left Group B wide open with two matches to go.
The Black Eagles went level with Benni McCarthy’s side on six points, but leapfrogged them into second place by virtue of a superior goal difference. Raja lead the group with nine points.