The eagerly awaited second leg of the CAF Champions League final is set to unfold this weekend, at Cairo’s 30 June Stadium.
Mamelodi Sundowns will aim to defy expectations as they take on hosts Pyramids FC at 19h00 SAST in a high-stakes battle for the coveted continental title.
Despite drawing the first leg 1-1 at home, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso remains optimistic about his team’s chances, highlighting the importance of mental strength in this high-stakes fixture.
Read: Sundowns Defender Reveals Vulnerability Ahead of CAF Champions League Final
“We need mental strength because everything is still open. Pyramids knows that too. The better team will win the return leg, and we will play the same way we play every match. We must show the greatest desire,” Cardoso stated, underlining his belief in his squad’s ability to perform under pressure.
He further elaborated on his team’s attacking intent: “We must score at least one goal, and even if Pyramids scores, we will continue to search for a draw,” Cardoso added. “Heroes emerge in difficult times – it’s easy to become a hero in good times.”
This upcoming final will mark the fourth meeting between these two formidable clubs. Beyond the first leg of this season’s final, they previously clashed in the 2023-24 group stage. Their previous encounters saw a goalless draw in Pretoria, followed by a narrow 1-0 victory for Sundowns in Cairo, thanks to a decisive goal from Teboho Mokoena.
On the other side of the dugout, Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurisic expressed immense pride in his team’s first-leg performance, particularly given the stature of their opponents.
“I am very proud of my team’s performance against a big team like Sundowns, which has a lot of experience in the CAF Champions League.
He believes his team dominated large portions of the first leg: “We played a very strong match and were the better team for most of it. If it weren’t for bad luck, we would have scored many more goals.”
However, Jurisic tempered his confidence with a pragmatic outlook, reminding his squad that the job is far from done. “In the end, we haven’t achieved anything yet. What happened is that we only finished the first half, and we have a second half in Egypt in just a week. We must win to secure the precious title.”
Historically, this final marks the fifth occasion an Egyptian club has faced a South African club in the CAF Champions League showpiece. Egyptian sides have a strong record, having emerged victorious in three of the previous four encounters. However, the only exception to this trend saw Mamelodi Sundowns famously defeat Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate in the 2015/16 edition of the tournament.
The highly anticipated second leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final is set to take place this weekend in Cairo, Egypt. Kick off at the 30 June Stadium is set for 19h00 (SAST) on Sunday, 01 June 2025.