Mamelodi Sundowns’ resilience will be tested when they face Esperance in the CAF Champions League semi-final on Friday night. Sundowns are on the back foot heading to this encounter as they lost 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final match last weekend.
In their backyard, Masandanwana will bank on their fans to rally behind them and stun their Tunisian counterparts at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Taking a glance at the Tunisian giants, Esperance is motivated going to this encounter after securing a slender win at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi last Saturday night.
Sundowns vs Esperance Match Details:
- Date: April 26, 2024
- Time: 8:00 PM SAST
- Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Sundowns: The reigning DStv Premiership title holders made it to the semi-finals of the continental tournament after overcoming Tanzania’s Young Africans on penalties. Now they are looking for their second Champions League title and coach Rulani Mokwena must push his men to be disciplined and keep a clean sheet. Masandwana will be motivated after setting a new record of an unbeaten run of 22 matches on Tuesday night when they beat Sekhukhune United.
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Esperance: Also known as the Blood and Gold, the visiting Tunisian giants are ready to fight for a win and show that the win at home was not a fluke. The 32-time Tunisian league champions are dubbed one of the toughest opponents for Sundowns and beating Mokwena’s men at home means they will have to be ready for war as Mokwena rested his key players on Tuesday night.
Esperance vs Sundowns Key Battles To Watch:
Marcelo Allende vs Yan Sasse: Sasse netted for the visitors at home last weekend and he will be one of the key players in Pretoria. Sundowns will also have to guard against giving him too much space and room to maneouvre. For the hosts, Allende will bring freshness into the team after watching the previous match from the stands. His ability to initiate play for the hosts will be vital.
Grant Kekana vs Houssam Ghacha: The Bafana Bafana centre-back is one of Sundowns’ most reliable soldiers and his partnership with Mothobi Mvala will be important at the back. His role is to close down the likes of Sasse and Ghacha. Ghacha, the 28-year-old winger will also hope to trouble Sundowns defence with his runs and crosses.
Sundowns vs Esperance vs Sundowns Head to Head:
The meeting in Tunisia last weekend was the third clash between the two African giants. Sundowns are still chasing their first win compared to two for the visitors. Esperance had a 2-1 win in the same competition while the other one ended in a draw.
Sundowns vs Esperance Coaches:
Rulani Mokwena: Mokwena has praised his troops for their resilience despite facing a congested fixture schedule. The 2-1 win over Babina Noko saw Mokwena surging closer to retaining the league trophy. Mokwena is still chasing his maiden Champions League and having lifted the African Football League trophy last year, he is motivated to go all out for this one.
Miguel Cardoso: The 51-year-old Portuguese mentor has been coaching mostly overseas and this is his first job in the continent. He was appointed in January this year as head coach of the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side, thus replacing Tarek Thabet. The mutual respect witnessed between him and Mokwena will be set aside on Friday night.
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Esperance vs Sundowns What The Teams Said:
Rulani Mokwena: “I have the feeling that we don’t understand the Champions League. I look at the Champions League with a different perspective because I have been here before.
“I was an assistant coach to the previous coach Pitso Mosimane for a very long time and the last coach was here for eight years. He had eight years [four from 2012 to 2016] to try and win the Champions League and we only won the competition once. We only played the semi-final two times because the other time, we got into the final. But after that, in eight years, we only played the semi-final once and lost.”
Esperance vs Sundowns Fan Sentiments:
Despite the loss to the North Africans in a packed venue last Saturday, Masandawana fans are expected to fill up the Loftus Versfeld and sing until their last whistle. The fans will hope the team scores twice and keep their back shut.
Esperance vs Sundowns Prediction:
After resting his first team squad and fielding a reserve side in their midweek match, Sundowns have a chance to bag a win but one thing for sure is that the match will not be a walk in the park.
Esperance vs Sundowns What’s Next:
After this crucial continental match, Sundowns will shift their focus to the league match against TS Galaxy that is slated for Monday, 29 April at the stadium.
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