Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Rabat this Friday to face Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final, eager to avenge last year’s elimination by the Moroccan side. The South African club arrives determined to make an impact in the 2019 edition, with coach Pitso Mosimane openly expressing his intent to defeat Wydad. Speaking ahead of the trip, Mosimane described Tunisian coach Faouzi Benzarti’s approach as “an open book,” highlighting the familiarity between the two sides.
“The Wydad coach can name 80% of Mamelodi Sundowns’ starting eleven, and I can recognize 95% of their starting players,” Mosimane noted, emphasizing the depth of knowledge both teams have of each other. However, he acknowledged a new challenge: “The difference now is that we’ve never played away games at their ground. We’ll see how they handle the return leg at our place.”
The South African squad will be supported by a large traveling contingent of fans at the Moulay Abdellah Complex on April 27. Sundowns aim to capitalize on the absence of several Wydad stars, including Mohamed Ounajem, and are focused on securing a strong result ahead of the return leg. The team captain affirmed that the players are fully prepared to put last year’s defeat behind them and approach the match with confidence.
Wydad reached the semi-finals by eliminating Horoya Conakry, winning 5-0 on aggregate after a 0-0 draw in Guinea. Sundowns advanced past Al Ahly following a commanding 5-0 home victory in Pretoria, despite a 1-0 loss in the return leg in Cairo. With both teams in strong form and eager to gain an advantage, Friday’s clash promises to be a high-stakes encounter in the race for the Champions League final.
