Sundowns, Pirates pursue African glory

Namibian stars Peter Shalulile and Deon Hotto are chasing CAF Champions League success with their South African contenders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.

The duo are key to their sides’ quest to score upset results in Egypt when they face Al Ahly and Pyramids FC, respectively, in the return legs of their semi-final ties on Friday evening.

Al Ahly and Shalulile’s Sundowns will meet in the early-evening clash at the Cairo International Stadium, having played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Pretoria last Saturday.

Not having a lead to take to the Egyptian capital makes the Brazilians the underdogs – especially against the reigning and record 12-time champions – but coach Miguel Cardoso is upbeat about their chances.

“I still believe we can beat Al Ahly because we didn’t lose to them [in the first leg]. There is a lot to be played for still and we can do that out of belief and capacity for what we can put on the pitch,” says the Portuguese tactician.

“We are going there expecting a different match. Whoever goes through, the other team will not be happy.

“But whoever goes through will be strong because these are the two best teams in Africa. One will suffer in the end, but I hope we can be strong enough to cope.”

Cardoso’s counterpart at the Red Eagles, Marcel Koller, has warned the South African club of a more aggressive approach in the return game.

“We know already the point, we have not scored [an away] goal,” says the Swiss coach. “In Cairo, we have to score two goals, we know that.

“At the beginning, I said only the half-time is over, we have another half-time of the game, and we should have 100% concentration in Cairo in the second game.”

The later kick-off on Friday evening comes from the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, as Pyramids FC host Hotto’s Orlando Pirates.

The teams also drew 0-0 in their first-leg clash, held in Soweto last Saturday. In that clash, the Egyptian visitors twice had goals disallowed by VAR and put up a display, which suggests they have the Buccaneers’ number – though Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has a feeling that the away goals rule could play strongly into his team’s hands.

“We’re going to Egypt to try to get the result that we need, because of the rules of the competition and the possible double value of [away] goals,” says the Spanish tactician, who is set to leave Pirates at the end of the season.

“This 0-0 [scoreline from the first leg] is a tricky result for both teams, so we can anticipate a really interesting second leg, and trust me, we will do everything to make it possible to go to the final.”

The two aggregate winners will advance into the final, which is set to be played over two legs on Saturday 24 May and Sunday 1 June. – supersport.com

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