Pitso Mosimane is bullish about Mamelodi Sundowns’ chances in the group stage of the CAF Champions League. The former African champions were grouped with Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca, Lobi Stars of Nigeria and Ivory Coast’s Asec Mimosas in Group A in the draw that was conducted in Cairo on Friday.
Sundowns will start the group stage with a trip to Nigeria on the weekend of 11-13 January. Their first home match is against a familiar foe in Wydad Casablanca. This will be the third year in a row Sundowns are taking on the Moroccan side. The two sides met in the group stage this year and also faced each other in the quarterfinals last year.
“We got Wydad again, for a third time in a row,” Mosimane said. “It’s good to play Wydad again because all our games with them are tight. There’s no team that’s scored two goals. In some instances penalties separate the two teams. It’s a good draw. We know where we stay when we play Wydad. The challenge of going to Wydad is the flying because there are no direct flights to Casablanca. It’s either you go via Europe, Accra or Senegal.”
Sundowns will then take on Asec back-to-back in February after facing Wydad and Lobi Stars in January.
“We haven’t played Asec in the past,” Mosimane said. “They’re Soumahoro Bangaly and (Yannick) Zakri’s former team. We got the two players from them which shows that they’re a good team. They play on an artificial pitch. We can’t complain about that because we have played on an artificial pitch before. They’re a tricky team to play away. They’re technical and physical. Even though they’re difficult away, you’ve got to win at home. In my opinion, we can get four points out of Asec.”
Bafana BaStyle’s last two matches in the group will be hosting the Nigerian side in March and then end the campaign with a trip to Casablanca to take on the 2017 Champions League winners. They’ll balance this schedule with their domestic league commitments in the Absa Premiership and the Nedbank Cup. But that’s not new to Sundowns. They’ve been doing this for the last two years. Mosimane and his technical team know how to handle this load and what it takes to get out of your group in the Champions League.
“The most important thing in the Champions League is winning at home,” Mosimane said. “You must also make sure that in the three games away, you at least get two draws. If you do that, you’re guaranteed qualification in the knockout stage.
“The best thing you can do is win at home. We have to win at home. With how our games are structured, we’re going to play Wydad in our last match of the group. You don’t want to get to that match needing to get a result. You have to do what you need to do as early as possible. You’ve got to have a good start and hit the ground running with your home games.”
Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.
Relaying on last game put us on more pressure, honestly winning away game gives us more advantage like on 2016 campaign. Looking on current home game results it hard to say I ll miss to watch home games.
All the best to my team
All the best to the yellow submarine
Mosimane is a true tactician. All the best Masandawana
It’s true the group is tough but with you PM and your technical team I believe that you are going to put the 2nd star on the badge.
Kaboyyyeeeeeeellllow
We are Sundowns we will play in the final for the second star yellow
Qualification&passage 2 the knockout is possible¬hing will stop us from that.Again theres nothing 4 us 2 always lookout 4 draws when playing away from home.Especially if we r playing Cassablanca&Asec Mimmossas.We can say the coach knows what 2 expect from these 2 teams but Lobi Stars is a closed book 2 us.Brazillians can we go out&bring that glory home,I blieve those r the words of encouragement from a supporters perspective.What dissapponts me is if it is real that we r still looking 2 buy Maluleka from Chiefs as if we did not add unwanted signings like abo Lebese,Ngoma&Manyis.I wish that is a lie bcoz I’ve got a firm belief that young blood like Mvala from Highlandspark can do a better job than someone whose about 2 retire.Strangely Mkhulise &Mohomi r no given any fair chsnce 2 show their capabilities.
@Mfana I think Mvala is good for Highlands Park, I suggest that we don’t sign any players in January. I said it 3 times in my comments that Aubrey is at the holidays and time is running out on him, at Sundowns you will be given a chance to play on your arrival and you must really use it. I luved to have him at Sundowns but i can see abo Maboe raised their hands too high and he is relaxing. Currently we need goals and they are sitting at the stands not claiming their places with goals. as for Sekotlong he also started to relax, I wish our players can be able to score all one on ones with the goalkeeper.
Yes coach we are in a tough group but we must not complain, Last time we made silly mistakes, our players played referees and stop playing against Wydad and away against Hoyoya. We must have defenders that are switched on all the time, The rest our technical team knows what to do. I would also want to suggest that we don’t sign any players during the January open window. we might release some players including Tony Silva.The second star is loading.
Our experiences will help us a lot, even Wydad they can’t beat us and we will top the group
Sundowns is a big team with a bunch o quality players which can match any team in Africa so let our players up the game and restore our pride, there’s no excuse . . . K B Y
So today we don’t get the injury update? Any way, good luck to the boys , I sense a high score win for us today…
one way to beat Chiefs to attack put pressure stop that system smart play back passes pressurize goals will come
lobi star of makurdi is a very strong team in enugu, very physical and willing to spill blood. we are so passionate about football here in nigeria. we can kill, see you guys at the cathedral hell fire enugu.
Make us Proud Yellow Nation,We need the 2nd Star,We have what it takes to Win it for the 2nd time
@Kadiri, tell everybody there that we are coming. We are fearless ask the teams sefaxien.their supporters had to stop the game.you can also ask the Rats in mzansi. Cables were pulled and refs had to run seriously.so tell Lobi stars that ions is kom.
@Kadiri, tell everybody there that we are coming. We are fearless ask the teams sefaxien.their supporters had to stop the game.you can also ask the Rats in mzansi. Cables were pulled and refs had to run seriously.so tell Lobi stars that ons is kom.
Your players will tell the story better after the match in enugu. All lobi players have play for nigeria super eagle at CHAN and olympics. So don’t think Lobi is a small team to pounce on. Common sundown to play Lobi stars of makurdi (sundown to play with Akaligbese spirit juju in enugu) after all the rituals you pple wants to win here? I laught in swahili. Am very very optimistic of victory bcos we already known the score line.