Mamelodi Sundowns are eyeing their second CAF Champions League triumph at the expense of Egyptian side Pyramids on Saturday, 24 May at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the final first leg. Pyramids will be aiming to avenge their 1-0 aggregate loss during their last meeting with Downs in 2023.
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Pyramids| Saturday, May 24 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium | 15:00
Mamelodi Sundowns
Masandawana are coming to this match having recently made history by clinching their eighth league title in succession after defeating Magesi 2-0 on Sunday. They are set to travel to the United States of America for the FIFA Club World Cup next month.
They advanced to the final after a 1-1 draw on aggregate against toothless Al Ahly, thanks to the away goal rule. They were knocked out in the semi-finals of this competition last season.
Miguel Cardoso should be commended for the work that he has done since taking over as head coach from Manqoba Mngqithi in December last year. The Portuguese tactician reached the final of this competition with his former side, Esperance De Tunis, last season, but came up short against Al Ahly.
The Brazilians have been playing well despite securing the league with games to spare. Brazilian striker Arthur Sales has been in fine form, enjoying a great deal of game time recently and scoring for fun.
Veteran midfielder and captain Themba Zwane should be fully fit for the showdown, having recently returned from a long-term injury. His experience will be crucial as the team has several players who are playing their first-ever continental final, including striker Iqraam Rayners, who joined from Stellenbosch at the start of the season.
The Bafana Bafana attacker was later joined by Jayden Adams, who has fitted like a glove in the set-up since joining in January. Lucas Ribeiro scored a brace against Magesi on Sunday and is expected to trouble the visitors’ defence.
Mothobi Mvala returned from injury and should strengthen Cardoso’s defence, with Lucas Suarez having been shaky and making costly mistakes at the back. The Dragon was introduced as a second-half substitute during their final league game against Magesi.
Pyramids
The Sky Blue redeemed themselves following a disastrous Champions League campaign last season, which saw them finish at the bottom of Group A with five points, having secured one win, two draws and suffered three losses. The group was topped by their Saturday rivals.
This year, they finished second in Group D on equal points with Esperance after winning four, playing one draw and suffering one defeat to qualify for the knockout rounds.
They rolled over AS FAR in the quarterfinal with an aggregate win of 4-3, which included a 4-1 thrashing in the first leg. They were then pitted against the South African side Orlando Pirates in the semis, who were yet to taste defeat in the competition, in a fierce battle that produced five goals to book their spot in the final.
Congolese striker Fiston Mayele has played a major role in the club’s success this season, including their league campaign, where they are currently sitting second and are two points behind log leaders Al Ahly.
Mayele will surely be the difference maker in this match and will trouble the Sundowns defence to ensure that they head to the second leg with an advantage on their side.
How to watch
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
TV channel: DStv channel 209, SABC 3
Digital viewing: DStv Stream, Showmax and SABC Plus
Other: SABC radio stations to provide live commentary
Loftus Versfeld Stadium
This venue is a fortress for Masandawana, they are currently enjoying a long-standing unbeaten run at home, having won their recent four matches, scoring an impressive 11 goals. The stadium is also shared with the Blue Bulls rugby team.
Notably, this 2010 Fifa World Cup venue is the only stadium to have hosted a presidential inauguration, with South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa taking the oath for his first term in 2019.
Loftus has been the site of numerous significant events, including the 2023 African Football League final, multiple Currie Cup finals, and the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup.
Head-to-head stats
19/12/2023: Pyramids 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
10/12/2023: Mamelodi Sundowns 0–0 Pyramids
Prediction:
Teboho Mokoena scored the only goal during the last meeting between these two in 2023. The midfielder has been in fine form for the Brazilians. This is expected to be a highly contested match as both sides are currently enjoying a good run of form.
Given the home team’s struggle against Al Ahly in the semis, I feel that Pyramids will be better than them in this match, having seen how they outmatched an in-form Pirates with Mayele netting a brace in the return leg. Bet on Pyramids to win.
Odds: Mamelodi Sundowns 12/10 | Draw 2/1 | Pyramids 22/10