Time for Sundowns to turn it on in ACL

BIG MATCH IS INCLUDED IN TONIGHT’S CARRYOVER SOCCER 10

If Mamelodi Sundowns get past Esperance of Tunisia in tonight’s African Champions League (ACL) semi-final, they not only qualify for next month’s final and a chance to be crowned continental champions but also secure their berth in next year’s new-look Club World Cup.

Sundowns trail 1-0 from the first leg in Tunis last week, but can turn that around and get through to what will be their third final in 23 years.

Just as high on the agenda is qualifying for the Club World Cup in the USA in June next year, which is the first edition of the expanded 32-team tournament that FIFA have introduced.

There are four Africans places in the field, with two already taken and the other two determined by this year’s Champions League competition. The winner will go the tournament, plus the best performer in the last four editions of Africa’s premier club competition.

Sundowns currently top that element, but will be overtaken if they lose to Esperance. That said if Egypt’s Al Ahly, who have already qualified by virtue of winning the 2023 ACL, knock out TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in tonight’s other semi-final, then Sundowns will qualify for the Club World Cup irrespective of whether they win or lose the semi-final.

It could be some consolation given Sundowns supporters will be very jittery about the chances of the South African champions, who have a long history of looking unbeatable in the group stages of the ACL, only to fluff it in the knockout games. Last year, they lost in the semis to Wydad Casablanca on the away goals rule.

The match is included in tonight’s R100,000 carryover Soccer 10, which is set to total some R2 million and could deliver a rich payday. There are a host of other cash-boosted TAB soccer pools this weekend, including a guaranteed R8-million Soccer 13 on Sunday.

While Sundowns continue their efforts at continental glory, the race for second place in the DStv Premiership continues. Stellenbosch are three points up on third-placed Orlando Pirates and are expected to extend their unbeaten run to 24 games tomorrow night, when they host Polokwane City.

Pirates have a much trickier assignment at Royal AM in Maritzburg on Sunday with John Maduka’s side unbeaten in their last six home games at Harry Gwala Stadium.

SuperSport United have slipped out of the battle for second after failing to win any of their last nine league games, but could revive their fortunes against Kaizer Chiefs, who have one win in their last 10 and have dropped to 10th place in the PSL log.