South African football powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns are one again vying on their quest to secure their second CAF Champions League title.
Bafana Bafana international Aubrey Modiba, has reflected on the team’s collective ambition: “We fight every season to bring that second star.” The memory of their 2016 triumph, orchestrated by Pitso Mosimane, serves as both inspiration and a reminder of the elusive nature of continental success.
Read: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Esperance de Tunis
Their immediate challenge lies in a crucial quarterfinal clash against Esperance de Tunis. The first leg, set to unfold at Loftus Stadium, carries immense significance, followed by a daunting return leg in Tunisia. Sundowns’ recent history in the CAF Champions League reveals a pattern of reaching the latter stages, only to falter.
Since the 2018/19 campaign, they’ve consistently reached the quarterfinals, with three semi-final appearances, yet the lucrative piece of silverware has remained out of reach.
Modiba acknowledges this recurring challenge, emphasizing the team’s determination to overcome their continental hoodoo. “I think we do talk about that [shortcoming] every season; we always fall short in the semi-finals or the quarterfinals, but we know these games are not easy,” remarked Modiba.
He believes the club’s strategic investments in the squad have strengthened their chances, providing the necessary depth and quality to compete at the highest level. “I think right now we have a good squad, a good team that’s ready to fight, and a technical team that’s helping us.”
“Hopefully, this season we can go all the way because we really want to participate in the finals – when you participate in finals you have a chance of winning the competition.”
The importance of securing a victory at home cannot be overstated. Modiba recognizes the strategic advantage of a strong home performance, especially considering the away goal rule. “We want to win our home games so that we give ourselves a better chance in the second round. So, hopefully we will win our home game, and we still have that away goal rule, so those are the things we need to take into consideration when playing this game.
“Hopefully, this season can be better, and we will go all the way. We are just going to take each game as it comes,” the 29-year-old added.
Kick off is scheduled for 15:00 on April 1, 2025, at Loftus Versfeld, promising an exciting battle as these African football heavyweights vie for continental glory.