Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad clash for maiden AFL title

• Wydad lead 2-1 from the first leg played in Casablanca
• Sundowns need a win of more than two goals or a 1-0
• The winner pockets 4mn USD

Mamelodi Sundowns host Wydad Athletic Club in the return leg of the final match of the African Football League (AFL) at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg played in Casablanca last week.

Sundowns need to win the match by a margin of at least two goals or at worst, win 1-0 to clinch the title on the away goal rule.

Playing at home, and promising to paint the stadium yellow, coach Rulani Mokwena is looking for nothing short of victory to clinch his first ever continental title as head coach.

“We tried to win away from home but I thought we were unlucky. The players gave everything in the first leg and we will try to write history in the second leg,” said the tactician.

“The last three seasons we have been knocked out of the Champions League by Al Ahly, Petro and Wydad. For the AFL, the stars are aligned, but you still have to make the stars align. We are playing at home, we are ready to make the best out of it,” the tactician said.

They will look to make their scoring end work, with Mokwena admitting they have focused a bit more on finishing to ensure they are sharp on the day.

Sundowns will have more or less the same squad they fielded in the first leg, with striker Junior Mendieta still sidelined after receiving a straight red card in the semi-final match against Al Ahly.

Ramzi confident Wydad can get result in Pretoria 

Meanwhile, Wydad head coach Adil Ramzi is confident his side can get a favourable result in Pretoria.

Wydad lead 2-1 from the first leg played in Casablanca last weekend and they just need to avoid defeat to clinch the title. Coach Ramzi says his side has prepared well and are keen to ensure they give a flawless performance for the end result, which is the title.

“This is a significant game and everyone wants to win it. We won in Casablanca but it’s still 50-50. We are facing a strong team but we are ready. For me this is the chance of a first major title as a coach and we share the same dreams with everyone, to win it. We will give our best to win,” added the tactician.

For the duel however, Wydad will miss a huge part of their squad, skipper Yahya Jebrane who is out after accumulating yellow cards. The midfielder has been a crucial part of the team throughout the tournament and his absence will definitely be felt for the side.

Coach Ramzi admits as much, but remains confident that those remaining can do an equally good job.

“His absence is impactful, but I trust the team as a whole. Such matches give players huge motivation and I know they will step up and give a good match for us to win the title,” he added.