CAF Champions League: Sundowns and Esperance set for decisive semi final second leg – Preview

Mamelodi Sundowns and Esperance head into a high-stakes CAF Champions League semi-final second leg with everything still to play for at Loftus Versfeld on 18 April.

Mamelodi Sundowns hold a narrow 1–0 advantage from the first leg in Radès thanks to Brayan León Muñiz’s strike, but they know the job is far from done against the four-time African champions.

Backed by a packed Pretoria crowd and kicking off at 15:00, the Brazilians will look to impose their passing game, manage the tempo, and use home conditions to their advantage. A clean sheet would be enough to see them into another TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final, yet any lapse could invite Esperance back into the tie.

Esperance, meanwhile, travel to South Africa with a clear mission: score at least once and turn the pressure back on the hosts.

Expect a tight, tactical battle, with Sundowns balancing control and caution, and the Tunisian giants chasing the away goal that could flip this semi-final on its head.