Two African giants meet in the early match on Sunday in the CAF Champions League when South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns host their Moroccan counterparts Raja CA in Pretoria. Sitting third and fourth on the Group B table, a victory for either side would go a long way to relieve pressure and indifferent recent form.
Mamelodi Sundowns
The last week has been a bit chaotic in the Mamelodi Sundowns camp at a club that has been known recently for stability. Former Espérance ST coach Miguel Cardoso is now in charge after Manqoba Mngqithi was dismissed and the Pretoria club have had to prepare for a crucial match under new leadership. The Portuguese spoke about how he and his team have been tirelessly preparing for Sunday's match and he declared his intention for Sundowns to play attacking and aggressive football. One note is that left back Aubrey Modiba is suspended after being sent off last week against AS FAR.
While some players like Peter Shalulile and Lucas Ribeiro have seen their form decline this season, Iqraam Rayners is stepping in to fill the goal scoring void and appears set to start. While the team adapts to Cardoso's system the midfield will be a place of stability with Tebohang Mokoena and Chilean Marcelo Allende serving as outstanding technicians who can maintain possession and unlock the opposition defense.
Raja CA
The 2024-25 campaign has been a big letdown for Raja supporters after great success last season and the pressure is increasing on The Green Eagles. Coach Ricardo Sá Pinto is particularly feeling the heat but the Portuguese tactician and his team are showing some signs of improvement. A 3-1 domestic league victory over Hassania Agadir was followed up by a 1-1 draw in Kinshasa against Maniema Union for their first point in Group B. Now the real test arrives for Raja supporters to determine if their team can truly ascend to a higher level.
Raja have improved their attacking play over the past month but the goals are currently not there to satisfy supporters. Younes Najari scored the goal against Maniema Union and appears set for a run of matches as the preferred striker while Adam Ennafati's return from injury in late November has added extra punch. An experienced defense led by goalkeeper Anas Zniti will come under substantial pressure which means the likes of Najari, Ennafati and playmaker Naoufel Zerhouni need to perform at their best.
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