By Michael Madyira
It’s a win-or-bust situation for Mamelodi Sundowns when they host Espérance in a CAF Champions League semi-final, second-leg match at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
After going down 1-0 in the first leg away in Rades last Saturday, the Brazilians are staring at the exit door of the Champions League.
They need nothing short of victory to overturn the first-leg defeat.
While Sundowns are under pressure to win the Champions League for the first time since 2016, coach Rhulani Mokwena is watering down his team’s expectations.
“What gives us the right to think it’s just going to be a walk in the park and [we’ll] win the competition? We have to work hard for it,” Mokwena told the media.
Sundowns have been dominating domestic football, but are now prioritising winning the Champions League as Mokwena shifts focus.
“I got a four-year contract here, and all I’m asking from the Sundowns fans is give me four years to try and win,” he said.
“I’m not asking for eight; give me four years to try and win the Champions League.”
This is the exact stage of the competition at which Sundowns’ campaign ended last season when they were defeated by another North African opponent, Wydad Casablanca.
Last time, they held the Moroccans to a goalless away draw, but Wydad broke their hearts by forcing a 2-2 draw in Tshwane, which eliminated the Brazilians on the away-goals rule.
Mokwena and his men will hope that what happened last season will not come back to haunt them, as Espérance coach Miguel Cardoso is refusing to read much into his team’s first-leg advantage.
“There are still 90 minutes plus extra time to play, after which we can talk about the final,” said Cardoso. “We know it will be a difficult match, but we are determined to go for qualification.”
The Tunisians have won the Champions League four times, with their last title in 2019.
Pictured above: Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane vies for the ball against his Espérance counterpart Ghaylen Chaalali.
Image source: Esperance
