The CAF Champions League quarter-finals will see a thrilling clash between Esperance de Tunis and Mamelodi Sundowns, a rematch of last season’s tightly contested semi-final.
Former Esperance midfielder Khaled Mouelhi, now assistant coach at Raja Casablanca, has described the tie as “the standout fixture” of this stage of the competition.
A rematch of last season’s semi-final
Esperance and Mamelodi Sundowns met in the 2023-24 CAF Champions League semi-finals, with the Tunisian club securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory in both legs to advance to the final.
Mouelhi believes this quarter-final meeting will be just as intense.
The Esperance-Mamelodi Sundowns clash is, for me, the biggest match of these quarter-finals.
Both teams reached the last four last season, and their semi-final encounter was extremely tight, he told Africafootunited (AFU).
Esperance’s qualification was deserved, but it was not easy.
They played against a very technical Sundowns side, and their tactical discipline made the difference, Mouelhi added.
Tactical battles and coaching influence
Mouelhi credits Miguel Cardoso, who was in charge of Esperance last season, for orchestrating a game plan that neutralized Sundowns’ attacking threats.
He emphasized the importance of Esperance’s tactical discipline and efficiency in front of goal.
Esperance’s realism was the key factor.
Miguel Cardoso, knowing his side had limited attacking options, designed a system based on controlling possession and seizing key offensive moments, he explained.
However, this time around, there is a significant shift—Cardoso is now managing Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Portuguese coach was appointed to lead the South African giants with a clear objective: to win the Champions League and compete on the global stage.
The biggest expectation from Cardoso at Sundowns is to bring a structured and rational approach, Mouelhi noted.
They are performing well in the domestic league, but their real challenge is to go beyond the quarter-finals.
Esperance’s winning form and key players
Despite the challenge posed by Sundowns, Mouelhi remains optimistic about Esperance’s chances.
He believes the team’s current form, attacking options, and experience in the competition give them an edge.
Esperance is on a winning streak, and that momentum is crucial.
The team is scoring goals, which is encouraging, but they need to be more solid defensively, as Sundowns have excellent attacking players, he said.
He also highlighted Esperance’s experience in the Champions League, stressing that the Tunisian side knows how to handle high-pressure matches.
Esperance have a history of traveling well, but they must manage the first leg properly and withstand Sundowns’ attacking power.
Looking ahead to the second leg in Tunisia, Mouelhi is confident that playing in Radès will be an advantage for Esperance.
At home, in front of their passionate supporters, they are almost unbeatable.
They also have dangerous attacking players like Youcef Belaïli, Yan Sasse, and Elias Mokwana, who are capable of making an impact in South Africa.
A high-stakes encounter
The first leg of this highly anticipated quarter-final will take place in Pretoria, with the return match in Radès.
With both teams boasting strong squads and high ambitions, the clash between Esperance and Mamelodi Sundowns is set to be one of the most exciting matchups in this season’s CAF Champions League.
