Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena believes they have earned mutual respect from Al Ahly after doing the double after the African giants.
Sundowns are set to take on the record 10-time African champions in Cairo at the back of two wins from two – after downing Al Hilal and Cotonsport in thier Group B openers.
Their illustrious opposition lost to the Sudanese side last week 1-0 in Khartoum which has added major impetus to their need to get a result over Masandawana on Saturday.
“Al Ahly is a very good side, but they know that Sundowns is also a very good side, so the way we speak about them as an opposition, is probably the same way they speak about Mamelodi Sundowns as a team,” Mokwena said.
“It’s a team that’s difficult to beat, a team that has very good players, a team that is well coached and very well organised. So those acronyms I’m sure are discussion points that Al Ahly has when discussing Sundowns.
“But I can use the same, I can tell you they’re a team that has technically very good players that play in positions, where you need important players to decide the result and [Ahmed] Abdelkader, [Mohamed] Sherif, [Magdy] Afsha, Percy [Tau] – [Mohamed] Abdelmonem at center-back, important for them with regards to set-pieces.
“Dieng in the midfield, his aggressivity, the energy he gives the team, and also danger he offers in second phases of set-pieces with shots from range. El Shenaway is a goalkeeper that has done it all, both at domestic and national team level.
“Hany, Maâloul, very experienced, good technical ability and then, of course, a team that has a lot of physicalities, a team that has a lot of speed on the counter attack, a team that has a lot of threat on set-pieces.”
Egyptian authorities have allowed 10,000 spectators to attend the fixture at the Al Ahly Stadium in Al Salam City this weekend, and it’s been reported that it was sold out in 15 minutes, emphasising the excitement around the upcoming tie to the locals.
“They are a team with good international experience, the feelings of going to a Club World Cup and playing against Flamengo, Seattle Sounders and even Real Madrid, but they know we’re a team that beat them twice last season – we beat them home and away, they know. So they will come with a lot of respect for us, just as we have for them,” he added.
“What happened in the past has very little bearing on this, it’s a big game, with big players and important for both clubs, both sets of players and incredible pitch available, amazing atmosphere created [in Cairo]. So the best players play these types of games and enjoy these types of feelings. We know we’ve got to be at our best to have a chance to win.”
The game will kick off at the Red Devils home ground on Saturday evening at 21h00.
