Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has expressed strong confidence in his team’s prospects of lifting this year’s CAF Champions League trophy following their narrow quarter-final victory over Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
The South African giants secured a 1-0 aggregate win against the Tunisian club, thanks to a first-leg goal in Pretoria.
The return fixture in Tunis ended in a goalless stalemate, enough to send the Sundowns into the semi-finals of the competition for the second consecutive year.
Sundowns will now face Egyptian powerhouse and reigning champions Al Ahly, who advanced after defeating Al Hilal with a 2-0 aggregate score—scoring once in each leg. The two-legged semi-final is set to begin on April 18, with the second leg scheduled for the following week.
Speaking after the win over Espérance, Williams, who also captains South Africa’s national team Bafana Bafana, said the players believed from the outset that they were capable of going all the way this season.
“We knew what to expect. They had to come at us, especially playing at home, but we remained calm and stuck to our plan,” Williams said.
“Beating them in Pretoria was a historic moment for us—this club had never done that before. That result gave us the belief that this could really be our year.”
Williams, who has been instrumental in the club’s continental run with several clean sheets, praised the team’s discipline and mentality across both legs of the quarter-final.
He added that the victory over such a formidable opponent signalled a shift in the team’s confidence heading into the final stages of the competition.
“When we secured that home win, I had a strong feeling that something special was happening. That game changed our mindset,” he said.
“We’ve grown a lot as a group, and now we’re ready for whatever comes next.”
Awaiting Sundowns in the semi-final is a formidable Al Ahly side with a rich history in the competition.
The Egyptians, serial winners of the Champions League, will pose a significant challenge.
However, Williams remains undeterred, insisting that the momentum built so far this season has put the team in the right mental space to overcome any obstacle.
Should Sundowns reach the final, they will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Orlando Pirates and Pyramids, setting up the possibility of an all-South African showdown for continental honours.
Beyond the Champions League, Sundowns remain in contention on the domestic front. They are set to host Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals on Sunday at Loftus Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The club will be aiming to maintain their strong run of form and keep their hopes of a treble alive.
With Williams’ leadership and a team in top form, Mamelodi Sundowns appear poised for a strong finish to the season, both at home and on the continental stage.
