Sundowns must make history to beat Al Ahly

PRETORIA — Mamelodi Sundowns will have to make history if they are to overturn their 2-0 quarterfinal first leg deficit against Egyptian giants Al Ahly and continue in the CAF Champions League this season.

Sundowns will host Ahly, and former coach Pitso Mosimane, in the return leg of their tie on Saturday, but no South African club has managed to overturn a loss when trailing by two goals from the first leg in the 28year history of the country’s participation in the Champions League.

In fact, only three times in their 120-game history in the competition have Sundowns progressed after losing the first leg by a single goal.

This year’s competition is reminiscent of their quarterfinal meeting with Ahly last season when they lost the first leg away 2-0, and then could only manage a 1-1 draw at home.

Two mistakes from goalkeeper Denis Onyango in Cairo on Saturday gifted Ahly the advantage again this season, and it now looks a long way back for The Brazilians.

The first time they managed to come back from a losing position was when they lifted the trophy in 2016.

They lost 1-0 away at Zimbabwean side Chicken Inn, but then won the return 2-0 at home for a 2-1 aggregate win.

They repeated the feat in the semifinals that year when they lost 2-1 at Zambian side Zesco United, but then won the return 2-0 to advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Sundowns also had to come from behind again in the 2019-20 season when they lost 2-1 at Otôho d’Oyo from Congo-Brazzaville in the first round in a shock result, but then trounced their opponents 4-0 in the home leg.

The only time the club have ever overturned a 2-0 deficit in African club competition was in the now defunct CAF Cup in 2003.

They lost 2-0 at Angolan side Primiero de Agosto in the first round, but won the home leg by the same scoreline. That forced the game to penalties, which Sundowns won 9-8 in a thrilling shoot-out.