Ribeiro ready to help Sundowns secure elusive Caf Champions League title – Message is to stay strong

Mamelodi Sundowns will be playing Pyramids FC in the second leg of the Caf Champions League final at the 30 June Stadium on Sunday.

The Premier Soccer League champions were held to a 1-1 draw by the Egyptian outfit in the initial meeting staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday, May 24. Lucas Ribeiro had scored for Masandawana early in the second half, but the visitors salvaged a draw in the stoppages, thanks to Walid El Karti’s strike.

Pyramids have an away-goal advantage, meaning a goalless draw or a win of any kind will give them their maiden title. However, the Brazilians need a high-scoring draw or victory to win the second star.

‘It is difficult game, but it is okay’

Ribeiro joined Sundowns in the 2023/24 season, winning the Premier Soccer League and the African Football League in his debut campaign. The South American is anticipating a tough game this weekend, but insists Masandawana have what it takes to go all the way.

“I am very with the team, we fought together, I’m very happy to have scored, but the job is not finished, we’re going to Egypt, finish the chances that side. I’m very happy, but it’s very difficult, especially in the last minutes [when Sundowns conceded],” he said in his pre-match interview.

“But this is football, so the message is to stay strong, we go that side and play very well. It’s a difficult game, all games in the Champions League are difficult, tactically, there’s less space to play. But it’s okay, we stay strong, go to Cairo, and become Champions,” he concluded.

Ribeiro has so far played 47 games this season, managing 20 goals and 13 assists; he has three goals in the Caf Champions League.