Sundowns eye progression as Al Ahly face elimination in CAF Champions League

Introduction

Mamelodi Sundowns are set to face off against Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League Group B match in Omdurman, Sudan tomorrow. A defeat in this game will mean Al Ahly will face elimination from the competition.

Al Ahly’s hopes

Al Ahly will be hoping that Sundowns beat Al Hilal and win their last two matches in the group stages. This would give them a chance to progress to the quarterfinals. But if Hilal wins, it would mean Al Ahly won’t progress to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2017.

Hilal’s success

If Hilal wins against Sundowns tomorrow, they will progress beyond the group stages for the first time since 2015. They come into this match after a 3-0 victory against Manama in their Arab Club Champions Cup first round last week, having won five successive victories since they lost to Sundowns in the first match of the Champions League in Pretoria.

Al Ahly must win their next two matches

Al Ahly must beat Cameroon side Coton Sport this weekend and then Al Hilal at home in their last group match next month. If they don’t, they will be eliminated from the competition.

Sundowns are favourites

Despite their recent success, Sundowns are the favourites heading into this match. Unbeaten under Rulani Mokwena, they have been a dominant force across all competitions. They have also scored ten goals in their last two matches against Al Ahly in the Champions League and Royal AM in the league.

Key players for Sundowns

Coach Rulani Mokwena will be hoping players like Peter Shalulile and Cassius Mailula will have their scoring boots on as they look to maintain their winning momentum.

No home crowd disadvantage for Sundowns

Sundowns won’t have to play in front of the Hilal home crowd as all their games have been played behind closed doors due to disciplinary sanctions imposed by CAF.

Gallants’ chance to qualify

In other CAF Confederation Cup news, Marumo Gallants can qualify for the knockout stage should they not lose to Al Akhdar in their Group A match at Martyrs of February Stadium on Sunday. Gallants are currently first in the group with nine points from four matches and a victory will be enough to secure a passage to the knockout phase.

Conclusion

This is an important match for Sundowns, as they look to maintain their dominance and secure a passage to the quarterfinals. For Al Ahly, it’s a must-win game if they want to progress to the next round. It remains to be seen who will come out on top.

Credit: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-03-17-downs-hold-key-to-ahlys-last-eight-chances/

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