Mamelodi Sundowns‘ defender Divine Lunga admits his team relishes the underdog tag as they prepare to face German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup.
The reigning eight-time South African champions are accustomed to dominating their domestic league, but the upcoming match presents a different challenge.
Sundowns are fresh off a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Korea’s Ulsan HD in their opening Club World Cup fixture, a win that has injected confidence into the squad.
This contrasts with their recent narrow 3-2 aggregate defeat to Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League final at the start of June, a rare setback for a team that only lost three games in the entire 2024/25 Betway Premiership season.
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However, the encounter against eight-time German champions Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati promises to be a far more competitive affair. Lunga, speaking to The Citizen, acknowledged the stature of their opponents:
“Everyone knows what Dortmund are capable of. They are not a small team, they are big guns, but even us, we might be underdogs, but I think where we come from, people know who Mamelodi Sundowns are.”
He further emphasized the respect the Brazilians command, even from a club of Dortmund’s caliber. “They know what happens when you meet Sundowns, but I think even Dortmund as well.
I even read an interview of their coach talking about us, so I think it will be a tough game, and it’s not going to be an easy one.”
Reflecting on their recent victory against Ulsan HD, Lunga expressed satisfaction with the team’s effort and preparation. “I feel happy about the win, and I think we gave it our all.
Everyone fought, and we fought to get the win, and I’m happy about the victory. We analyzed their games that they played before they [Ulsan] came this side, so we expected their approach.”
A victory for Mamelodi Sundowns in this highly anticipated clash would not only be a significant upset but would also secure their spot in the knockout stage of the Club World Cup with a group match still to play.