Mamelodi Sundowns are due to kick off their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the United States with their first group stage match scheduled for June 18.
The South African champions are heading to their second FIFA Club World Cup but the format has changed with 32 teams now featuring which has made it tough and they will need to be at their best to get out of their group which also comprise German giants Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan of South Korea and Brazilian side Fluminense.
Sundowns head to the Club World Cup after their heartbreaking loss in the CAF Champions League final, when they came so close to their second African title but lost out to Egyptian side Pyramids 3-2 on aggregate.
The two-legged final exposed a number of issues that contributed to Sundowns’ loss which they must sort out to enjoy success at the Club World Cup.
Set-piece defending must improve
Two of the three goals Pyramids scored in the final came through set-pieces and Sundowns must learn how to deal with this otherwise they will be on the plane back home after their three group stage matches.
The Brazilians will play teams of a much higher calibre compared to Pyramids and if they do not learn how to cover their goal from corners and free-kicks, then they risk losing with even bigger margins at the Club World Cup
Be ready to be the underdog
Another thing Sundowns must accept is that this is not the PSL or CAF Champions League where they are always the dominant team that controls possession.
At the Club World Cup, they will be the lesser team and cannot afford to go toe-to-toe with their opponents hence the need to be humble and pragmatic for the sake of getting a positive result and avoiding embarrassing losses.
Themba Zwane must be involved
Coach Miguel Cardoso has faced backlash over his decision to snub Themba Zwane during the final as the veteran playmaker was not involved at all in both matches but that cannot happen again at the Club World Cup.
Granted Mshishi is being used sparingly after recovering from his long-term injury, he still has the ability to lift the team and can be the difference between a draw and defeat or stalemate and victory given his intelligence, even if it is just 20 or 15 minutes per game.
Quicker centre-backs must be fielded
Sundowns’ central defensive partnership of Mosa Lebusa and Grant Kekana struggled with the pace of Pyramids forwards, especially striker Fiston Mayele, who was constantly getting behind them and they have to avoid a repeat at the Club World Cup.
While Mayele let them off the hook a number of times, the likes of Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi will punish them heavily and hence the need to field at least one quick defender or Cardoso can opt to go for three at the back at the tournament.
Maximum concentration needed
This goes without saying but Sundowns learnt it the hard way during the first leg of the Champions League final.
Leading 1-0 heading into the final minute of the game, which would have seen them in the driver’s seat in the second leg, Sundowns conceded an equaliser which turned the tide in Pyramids’ favour, making their task difficult in Cairo.
They will need to keep their antennas up for every minute in the United States as any moment they switch off could be catastrophic.
Clean sheets are vital but…
One aspect that was key to Sundowns’ run to the Champions League final and even PSL glory was that they rarely conceded goals.
They conceded one goal in four matches in the knockout stages before letting in three in the final and will need to go back to being tight in defence.
However, that alone is not enough as they will need to score at the other end to secure victories that will be needed to advance from Group F.
Cardoso must be flexible
Meanwhile, coach Cardoso paid the price for his decision to make changes in personnel and shape late even when it was clear very early that his team was struggling in the Champions League final.
Sundowns were second best for most of the contest but it was not until the second part of the second half that Cardoso made key changes that saw his team apply a lot of pressure but by then, they were two goals down which proved difficult to salvage even though they scored a goal.
The coach has to be quick in his decision-making at the Club World Cup otherwise lighting will strike twice.
