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Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly face a decisive AFL semi-final clash in Cairo, with the South Africans holding a 1-0 lead.
Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa are poised to battle it out against the giants of African football Al Ahly in the return fixture of the African Football League (AFL) semi-finals.
This Wednesday evening clash in Cairo will determine who advances to the grand stage of the inaugural AFL final.
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The stage was set when the Red Devils of Al Ahly suffered an unexpected 1-0 loss to Sundowns in the first leg played in Pretoria.
Now, the record African champions are under immense pressure to overturn the deficit and require a victory margin of over two goals to secure their spot in the final.
History, however, slightly leans in Ahly’s favor when playing on home turf. Their track record against the South African side is commendable, with just one 1-0 loss in the 2021-22 CAF Champions League group stage.
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But Sundowns have also shown resilience by snatching a point from a previous Cairo encounter, drawing 2-2 last season. From the four previous meetings, Ahly emerged victorious, bolstering their confidence for this decisive clash.
In the aftermath of the first leg, Al Ahly's head coach Marcel Koller expressed optimism despite the challenge ahead.
"The game in Cairo will be crucial, and we will give it our all. There is still a good chance for us,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of this encounter.
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Red Devils heavily relies on their frontline attackers, Mahmoud Kahraba and Percy Tau, whose performance will be instrumental in their quest for the final berth.
On the other side, Sundowns, led by Coach Rulani Mokwena, are riding on a wave of confidence. They have demonstrated their mettle by scoring on previous trips to Cairo, a fact not lost on Mokwena.
“We have got a goal in Cairo, we know that and Al Ahly knows that too, and it stresses them a lot. The message that they have got is they know Sundowns can score in Cairo,” he commented, emphasizing the psychological edge his team has.
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He further observed the evident frustration in the Al Ahly squad post the Pretoria game, adding, “You could see the frustration on the players when they walked off the pitch, because I would presume that the first thing they will have in mind is that Sundowns must not score an away goal. Let’s see what happens, it’s only half time. I think this will be an interesting game, but as I said, I think they also know that Sundowns has a goal in Cairo, if not two.”
Amid the tactical battles and strategizing, Kenya's defender, Brian Mandela, representing Mamelodi Sundowns, showcased exceptional skills during the first leg, further elevating the anticipation for the return fixture.
The mathematical dynamics are clear. A simple draw will see Sundowns progress to the AFL final. However, should they score, the pressure intensifies for Al Ahly, who would then need a minimum of three goals to reclaim the tie.
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