Mamelodi Sundowns train on Thursday ahead of thier massive clash against arch-rivals Al Ahly for their Caf Champions League, first leg, tie. The match is scheduled for 3pm at Loftus Versfeld. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media
As the domestic and continental football seasons edge closer to their dramatic conclusions, this weekend promises a feast of thrilling fixtures. From relegation scraps and top-eight battles in the Betway Premiership to blockbuster semi-finals in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, South African sides are front and centre of the action.
Richards Bay and Cape Town City kick off proceedings with a tense Friday night basement battle, while Saturday sees Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates flying the flag in high-stakes continental clashes. Sunday brings more fireworks, with Stellenbosch FC venturing into unfamiliar territory in Zanzibar, and Magesi FC looking to continue their purple patch at home.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kick-off – including times, venues, betting odds, and predictions for each clash.
RICHARDS BAY FC vs CAPE TOWN CITY FC
🕖 Kick-off: 7:30 PM 📍 Venue: King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban
Richards Bay FC will host Cape Town City FC on Friday evening at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban. Since Richards Bay FC rank 13th, while Cape Town City FC hold 14th position (in a 15-team league), this Betway Premiership match can be termed the 'Battle of the Basement Dwellers'. In their last five games, Richards Bay have had a mixed performance with one win, two draws, and two losses. Cape Town City have shown varied form with one win, two draws, and two losses in their last five matches. It will be a closely contested encounter as both teams look to secure vital points to climb up the league standings.
Prediction: Richards Bay 1 Cape Town City 1
Betting odds: Richards Bay 2.55 | Draw 2.80 | Cape Town City 3.15
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS vs AL AHLY
🕒 Kick-off: 3:00 PM 📍 Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
Al Ahly are the defending champions of the CAF Champions League, and therefore they are the team to beat for this season’s continental crown. But while the Red Devils have mastered the art of winning in the knockout stage, they’ve never beaten South African teams away from home. So, Sundowns are riding on that feat and the fact that coach Miguel Cardoso is eyeing revenge over Al Ahly ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon (3:00 PM). Cardoso lost to the Red Devils during last season’s Champions League final while he was still on the books of Espérance – a side he recently eliminated in the quarter-final.
Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Al Ahly 1
Betting odds: Mamelodi Sundowns 1.90 | Draw 3.20 | Al Ahly 3.75
ORLANDO PIRATES vs PYRAMIDS
🕕 Kick-off: 6:00 PM 📍 Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Pirates will host Pyramids at FNB Stadium in their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg on Saturday (6:00 PM), instead of their home ground, Orlando Stadium. Given that they had made Orlando a fortress this season, after conceding only once at home since the group stage, they’ll bank on the Ghost to rally behind the team at the Calabash as well. The Ghost have mastered the art of making life difficult for their visitors – especially the Ultras – having given them a taste of their own medicine against MC Alger, lighting up flares. Pirates also have a good record against Egyptian outfits at home, as Al Ahly failed to score in their last two visits, including in this season’s group stage matches.
Prediction: Orlando Pirates 2 Pyramids 0
Betting odds: Orlando Pirates 2.60 | Draw 3.00 | Pyramids 2.60
MARUMO GALLANTS vs GOLDEN ARROWS
🕐 Kick-off: 1:30 PM 📍 Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Arrows will want to rub more salt into Gallants' wounds after they were beaten 1-0 by Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup semi-final last Sunday. Arrows have been shooting sharper under new coach Manqoba Mngqithi as their purple patch includes beating Kaizer Chiefs at home. And with a top-eight finish still realistic as they trail the eighth-placed Chiefs, who have played three games more, Abafana Bes’thende will want to leave no stone unturned going forward. Gallants, who want to pull away from the relegation quagmire, are not far off from Arrows, though, as they trail them by two points, despite playing three games more.
Prediction: Marumo Gallants 1 Golden Arrows 2
Betting odds: Marumo Gallants 2.26 | Draw 3.10 | Golden Arrows 3.30
CHIPPA UNITED vs KAIZER CHIEFS
🕓 Kick-off: 4:00 PM 📍 Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Chippa United will welcome Kaizer Chiefs to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, facing what is arguably their best opportunity in nine seasons to qualify for the top eight. They won’t get a better chance to make inroads into the top half than when they meet a side currently occupying the last of those positions. Amakhosi have had the better of the Chilli Boys in their last two meetings across all competitions this season, and fresh off the high of their 2-1 Nedbank Cup win against Mamelodi Sundowns, this could be the turning point in their season.
Prediction: A 1-1 draw
Betting odds: Chippa United 3.80 | Draw 2.85 | Kaizer Chiefs 2.20
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED vs POLOKWANE CITY
🕔 Kick-off: 5:00 PM 📍 Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Sekhukhune United will welcome Polokwane City to the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in what promises to be a high-stakes Limpopo Derby, with both sides battling for a place in the top three. Babina Noko will be the favourites for this clash, but with both teams not enjoying the best run of form in their last five fixtures – City collecting only four points and United managing just six from a possible 15 – the match effectively becomes a must-win affair. Failure to secure a win could result in losing ground to those around them. It will be a close encounter, but Sekhukhune will likely edge it, buoyed by the confidence from their 2-1 victory against Cape Town City in their last match.
Prediction: Sekhukhune to win 2-0 Betting odds: Sekhukhune United 2.29 | Draw 2.90 | Polokwane City 3.50
SIMBA SC vs STELLENBOSCH FC
🕓 Kick-off: 4:00 PM 📍 Venue: New Aman Complex, Zanzibar
Simba SC will host Stellenbosch FC in a CAF Confederation Cup semi-final first leg at the New Aman Complex in Zanzibar on Sunday. The Tanzanian giants Simba usually play their home games in Dar es Salaam, but their venue is under repair. The Tanzanian media say Simba will be disadvantaged because they will lose support at the smaller Zanzibar venue. In the quarter-final round, Simba had seven players in the 'Team of the Quarter-final Round'. It reflects the strength of this team. Stellenbosch have done their homework and know they will be up against a strong attack, with big, powerful attackers and a solid defence. This team has a good record of staging match-winning comebacks at home.
Prediction: Simba SC 1 Stellenbosch 1
Betting odds: Simba 1.80 | Draw 3.20 | Stellenbosch 3.40
MAGESI FC vs TS GALAXY
🕕 Kick-off: 6:00 PM 📍 Venue: Seshego Stadium, Polokwane
Magesi FC remain unbeaten at the Seshego Stadium and are coming off a well-timed break, having not been in action for over two weeks since their impressive 1-0 win against Stellenbosch FC at the end of last month. Their purple patch could be set to continue as they host a TS Galaxy side that is in hot pursuit of a place in the top three. Dikwena tsa Meetse have already beaten the Rockets in the Telkom Knockout earlier this season, and with a solid run of form that has seen them win four of their last five fixtures, they will be looking to make it five in a row.
Prediction: Magesi FC 1-0 win Betting odds: Magesi FC 3.20 | Draw 2.90 | TS Galaxy 2.45
* Odds as recorded on Thursday
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