ONWARD: Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate advancing to the CAF Champions League semi-finals against Esperance. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: Backpagepix
South African football is poised for a historic showdown as Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates face Egypt’s top clubs, Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, in the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League this weekend.
Both matches will be played on South African shores, with Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (3pm kick-off), while the Buccaneers will be at FNB Stadium (6pm kick-off).
Here, Obakeng Meletse looks at the three key talking points ahead of the penultimate round...
Both South African teams will begin their semi-final journey in familiar territory, and cheers will be warm.
But the road ahead grows colder.
After the first leg’s breath is spent, they must wander into the lion’s den – where distance, fatigue and a wall of rival voices threaten to disrupt their dreams before they reach the promised land.
It will then be about making the tough yards in your home leg, and a lot of that should be minimising the goals conceded, as they can turn a steep road into a towering mountain, if not prevented.
Clean sheets for both sides will be just as golden as a win would be.
With that, the return legs could be open and offer many opportunities.
With the quality that both sides have, they’ve previously shown the damage they can do away from home when gaps open.
The Buccaneers are within touching distance of breaking their 30-year wait for a second Champions League crown, after last winning the trophy in 1995.
The Sea Robbers head into their clash against Pyramids FC on the back of some impressive form, as they reached the semi-finals unbeaten throughout the competition.
Their task will not be easy, as they face a Pyramids side that have had a few impressive years in the Egyptian Premier League, finishing as runners-up in the last three seasons to both Al Ahly and Zamalek Sporting Club.
Pyramids have only lost two matches since the start of the competition, and they currently lead the way in their domestic league over the defending champions, Al Ahly.
Three matches stand between the Buccaneers and a second Champions League crown, and the Egyptian side’s recent records suggest that the path to the final will not be a walk in the park.
For the Sea Robbers to create a unique bit of history, they will have to go through the hard yards in the two legs.
The Brazilians will renew their rivalry with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, who are the defending champions of this competition after their 1-0 aggregate win against Esperance de Tunis last season.
Sundowns saw another trophy they desperately wanted to win slip through their grasp last Sunday, after they suffered a 2-1 Nedbank Cup semi-final loss to Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld.
Heading into their all-important clash against the 12-time champions, the biggest question will be if they will be able to bounce back from their crushing loss, as they can ill afford to be caught napping against a dangerous Al Ahly side.
Perhaps their loss in the Nedbank Cup may have been a blessing in disguise, as they can now fully focus on the continent’s premier competition without too many interruptions, also considering that the club have set the competition as one of their main targets this season.
