Will the South African giants stand tall?
SOUTH AFRICAN football giants are out to finish the job in the continental competitions this weekend.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are one game away from reaching the group stages of the Caf Champions League.
But it won’t be elementary as they need to turn their stalemates in the first leg in to victories in the second leg. They both shared the spoils in the first leg after playing out to a 0-0 draw.
The Brazilians were away in Cario in Egypt for the first leg while the Buccaneers were at home in Orlando Stadium.
Sundowns drew with Al-Ahly Benghazi and they will be fancying their chances to put the North Africans to sword at home on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and progress.
The Brazilians are Mzansi’s most consistent side in the Champions League over the last three seasons. They were crowned the champions in 2016 while they crashed out in the quarterfinals in 2017. Last season they stumbled in the group stages.
Pirates will be looking to set the tone though in Namibia. They couldn’t do the job at home. They were held to a 0-0 stalemate by African Stars at home last weekend. The Buccaneers have to win or register any scoring draw and then they will advance in to the group stages.
Pirates will face Stars tomorrow at 4pm with the hope of brushing off the Namibians. Pirates coach, Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic, tweaked his team in the first leg.
He has to select his strongest line up tomorrow otherwise Pirates will find themselves in the play-off round of the Caf Confederation Cup.
Kaizer Chiefs will also be flying the South African in the Confederation Cup.
Amakhosi are in a driving seat having dispatched Elgeco Plus FC of Madagascar 3-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last weekend.
They will be out to protect their commanding lead tomorrow at 10.30pm in Madagascar.
The 2001 winners of the Confederation Cup will be confident of finishing the job in Madagascar. They will be without the services of their talisman, Khama Billiat, and midfield maestro, George Maluleka.
Even without the duo, Chiefs, are still expected to ease in to the next round without any problems. They have done well defensively under the tutelage of Ernst Middendorp. They have kept two clean sheets in two games while netting four goals. Chiefs are also yet to taste defeat under the German and they will strive to keep that record intact.
The masses in the football fraternity will be hoping to see all the three sides advance in to the next stage of the continental competitions. South African teams have done well over the years in Africa. Pirates were the runners up of the Caf Confederation Cup in 2015, Sundowns were the champions in 2016 and SuperSport United were the losing finalist in the Confederation Cup in 2017.