Mamelodi Sundowns are set to host Pyramids on Saturday in the first leg of the Caf Champions League final game that will be staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
This will be the third time the two teams are meeting in the continental outing. The initial meeting was in 2023 when the sides faced each other in the group stage. After playing to a goalless draw in South Africa, the Brazilians won by a solitary goal, away.
Despite the Premier Soccer League champions coming into the match as favourites, the club's legend John Tlale has warned about the Democratic Republic of Congo striker Fiston Mayele, who has been linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs. The 30-year-old scored a brace as his team claimed a 3-2 aggregate win over Orlando Pirates in the semi-final,
Masandawana got past Al Ahly to make the final hurdle of the annual competition.
‘You can't afford to lose focus'
“[Mayele] is the player they must keep an eye on at all times. They need to be cautious of Mayele. He may sometimes be absent from the game, but he can suddenly appear and score. He is forceful,” Tlale told KickOff.
“You can't afford to lose focus when playing against someone like Mayele. In the match against Pirates, he wasn’t very involved, yet he managed to score two goals out of nowhere.
“Sundowns must focus on scoring and ensure they don’t concede so they can head to Egypt with an advantage.”
‘Sundowns can effectively balance both defense and attack'
“Having a goal advantage will relieve some pressure from them. They should aim to find a balance because they have a squad that can compete,” Tlale added.
“With the quality they possess, Sundowns can effectively balance both defense and attack. It’s not going to be easy for them, as Pyramids are not under pressure; this is their first Champions League final. The pressure is on Sundowns.
“The last time Sundowns won the Champions League was in 2016. Tomorrow, they should play their usual attacking game. Even a 1-0 win would be beneficial for Sundowns, as it would provide them with a cushion,” he concluded.
The game kicks off at 15.00 hours, SAT.
