Ronwen Williams relishes Edouard Mendy showdown as Sundowns target FIFA Intercontinental Cup progress

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is looking forward to facing former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy when the South African side host Al-Ahli Saudi in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Saturday.

The match will take place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium at 3pm, with Sundowns aiming to advance in the competition after qualifying as the reigning CAF Champions League winners.

Mendy, who represents Senegal internationally, is among the Al-Ahli players Williams has followed most closely. The Sundowns captain said he was eager to finally play against a goalkeeper whose career he has admired.

“I mean, they are back-to-back Asian champions, so our work will be cut out for us,” Williams told the club’s media department.

“If you look at their team, there are so many guys who were at the World Cup, (Merih Demiral) Turkey, (Roger Ibanez) Brazil, Ivan Toney (England), and Edouard Mendy, someone I know quite well having watched his career and seen him achieve many things with Senegal.

“So it will be good to finally face him as I have not had the opportunity to play against him. It’s a team with a lot of experienced, high-quality players.”

Al-Ahli secured their place in the meeting with the African champions by beating Auckland FC 1-0 in the opening African-Asian-Pacific Play-Off.

Saturday’s winners will move into the next round, where they will meet the winners of the FIFA Derby of the Americas. Victory in that match would earn a place in the Challenger Cup.

The eventual route could give Sundowns the opportunity to face European champions and FIFA Intercontinental Cup holders PSG in the final.

Williams, however, said Sundowns were concentrating on the immediate challenge posed by Al-Ahli rather than looking beyond the weekend.

“We know it is going to be a very difficult game. I mean, they are back-to-back Asian champions, so our work will be cut out for us,” he said.

Sundowns can draw confidence from their domestic form. They have made a strong start in both the Betway Premiership and MTN8, securing a place in the MTN8 final while continuing to lead the league.

“It’s obviously key and important to start the season on a positive note and we’ve done that. We’ve done extremely well in the league and the MTN8, where we are in the final,” Williams said.

Al-Ahli’s squad includes several players with major international experience, including Merih Demiral of Turkey, Roger Ibanez of Brazil and England striker Ivan Toney.

For Sundowns, the priority is to overcome the Saudi Arabian club at Loftus Versfeld. For Williams, the fixture also offers the personal reward of finally lining up against Mendy after following the Senegal goalkeeper’s career from afar.