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Who will make the 2023-24 CAF Champions League final?

Mamelodi Sundowns players in training. PHOTO/Sundowns
  • The second leg matches will be played Friday night
  • Mamelodi Sundowns host Esperance in Pretoria
  • Defending champions Ahly are at home against TP Mazembe 

The second leg matches of the CAF Champions League semi-finals go down on Friday, with the last two men standing set to be whittled out.

Mamelodi Sundowns host Tunisia’s Esperance in Pretoria, while defending champions Al Ahly will also be at home against five-time champions TP Mazembe.

Sundowns are seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from last weekend’s first leg in Rades.

The South African champions have to win the game by a margin of more than two goals to progress to the final, in pursuit of their second Champions League title, while a 1-0 victory will send the game to penalties.

Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena says they are ready to give their all at home to ensure they get a win and keep their hopes of a Champions League title alive.

“We understand that it’s only halftime, but a halftime that we go into with a disadvantage. With commitment, enthusiasm and positivity, we know that we can overturn the result. The good thing about the second leg is that it takes place in front of our people and we want to do it for them and make them happy,” the tactician said ahead of the game.

The tactician says they have analysed what they did in the first leg and will look to improve some certain aspects of the game which they didn’t do really well.

“There were things for sure that I think we could have done better and Esperance did better than us, like having constant pressure around our box,” the tactician offered.

His sentiments are shared by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who remains upbeat the team will do well.

“We have trained very well and the confidence in the group is high. Everyone has the same feeling that we have a chance and we will give it our all,” noted the shot stopper.

Esperance vow to go all out in Champions League quest

Champions

Esperance players celebrate in a past match. PHOTO/CAF

Meanwhile, Esperance have vowed to give everything in Pretoria to secure their place in the final of the CAF Champions League.

Esperance could reach their eighth final of the CAF Champions League, their first since 2018-19. Togolese midfielder Roger Aholou says the team is pumped up to ensure they get a good result.

“We are focused on our goal. The team is very diligent in training. We want to have a good match and qualify for the final. It obviously won’t be easy but we have to give it our best and push hard for a place in the final,” Aholou said, in an interview with CAF Online.

He believes Sundowns will not make it easy for them and they expect a tough and competitive match in South Africa, but he reckons their experience, desire and hunger will carry them through.

“We cannot leave anything to chance. Every ball and every opportunity counts.  We will have to be tactically in sharp, defensively sound and if luck is on our side, we might get a goal. We need to remain focused throughout the match,” he said.

They have their work cut out, as Sundowns have lost just one of their last 31 home games in the Champions League.

Ahly look to make the most of their home ground advantage

Al Ahly players train before their CAF Champions League semi-final match against TP Mazembe. PHOTO/Al Ahly

Elsewhere, record winners Al Ahly will look to make the most of their home advantage as they seek to defend their CAF Champions League title. Ahly will take on five-time champions TP Mazembe in the return duel of their semi-final fixture in Cairo, with the tie evenly poised at 0-0 from the first leg played in Lubumbashi last weekend.

Ahly will need an outright win from the duel to progress to another final and coach Marcel Koller remains optimistic that they have what it takes to get a good result on home turf.

“We have prepared well for this game. It will be tough, no doubt about it. Mazembe is a really good team and we have seen their perfomances this season. We cannot take them lightly,” the coach said.

He added; “We are plying at home and we should make maximum advantage of that. We have to play with confidence and without fear.”

The Egyptian giants have heaps of confidence heading into the tie, fuelled by their desire to make history.

Ahly have won each of their two home games against TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League: 1-0 in the group stage in 2002, 2-1 in the group stage in 2012.

Also, the Red Devils could become the first side to reach the Champions League final in five consecutive editions. It would be their 17th final overall while no other side has ever reached 10 in the history of the competition.

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