Sundowns vs Saint-Éloi Lupopo: Match Background, Players to Watch, Where to Watch

Mamelodi Sundowns begin their bid to reach a second consecutive CAF Champions League final when they host Saint-Éloi Lupopo at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 15:00 CAT (SA, GMT+2) live on SABC Sport and SuperSport.

Sundowns in Form and Hungry for Glory

As South African champions, Sundowns skipped the first qualifying round and eased past Nigeria’s Remo Stars in the second, winning 5-1 away and 2-0 at home. Domestically, the Brazilians lead the Betway Premiership with 25 points from 12 matches (seven wins, four draws, one loss).

After falling short of continental glory last season, Masandawana are determined to go one better. Defender Grant Kekana underlined the team’s ambition:

“The desire is still there, the hunger is still there. The Champions League is the one trophy we really want. We’ve learned from past mistakes and will do better if we reach that stage again.”

Lupopo’s Road to the Group Stage

The Congolese outfit fought through two qualifying rounds, beating Al-Merreikh 1-0 on aggregate before stunning Orlando Pirates. After a 3-0 home win, Lupopo survived a 3-0 defeat in Soweto and triumphed 5-4 on penalties. They remain unbeaten in Linafoot, sitting second with three wins and two draws.

This is Lupopo’s first Champions League appearance since 2010, and they will be eager to prove they belong among Africa’s elite.

Players to Watch

Mamelodi Sundowns: Iqraam Rayners returned from injury before the international break and has six league goals this season. His sharpness could be key in breaking down Lupopo’s defence.

Saint-Éloi Lupopo: Mokonzi Katumbwe, a CHAN campaigner for DR Congo, anchors their backline and will need to be at his best against Sundowns’ attacking firepower.

Prediction: Sundowns 2-1 Saint-Éloi Lupopo