Wydad Casablanca and Mamelodi Sundowns will renew their rivalry when they meet in the first leg of 2018/2019 CAF Champions League semi-final on Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The two sides have met twice already in this season’s tournament, with each claiming a win, having been pooled in the same Group A of the competition.
Wydad lost 2-1 to the Brazilians in Pretoria before winning by a solitary goal at home but it was Sundowns who finished top of the pool.
The Moroccans made to the semis thanks to a 5-0 aggregate victory over Horoya, having played out a 0-0 draw in Guinea before putting five past the visitors in the return-leg encounter.
Sundowns were also impressive in the quarterfinals as they beat eight-time Africa Champions Al Ahly 5-0 at home before losing 1-0 away in Cairo.
The Brazilians know an away goal would leave their opponents needing to score three times, and coach Pitso Mosimane is optimistic that their goal drought in Morocco will end tonight.
“What is important is to try to score. We haven’t broken that ice, we haven’t scored in Wydad. It’s either we get a draw or lose 1-0, so we need to try to score, try to win and even if we don’t win 1-1 will be nice, but try to score away,” said Mosimane.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “I don’t know what the [Wydad] coach’s game-plan will be when we start there, but I know what my plan is when we’re here [in South Africa]. I told the boys it’s been too long guys, we have to score in Wydad, we have to change the fortunes. Hopefully, we’ll score.” [/perfectpullquote]
The Tshwane giants gaffer is hoping to have two of his key players back from injury in Lebohang Maboe and Leandro Sirino as he looks to try and use pace against Wydad. If not, that could see a more offensive role for winger-turned-fullback Ricardo Masimento, with the vastly experienced Hlompho Kekana slotting into the defense.
Sundowns will be also welcoming their first choice goalkeeper Dennis Onyango who missed the last few league games against SuperSport United, Baroka FC and Chippa United after picking up a knee injury during the previous match against Al Ahly in Egypt a fortnight ago.
Wydad will be relying on the services of on-form Walid El Karti, who netted a brace in the victory over Horoya. He will likely play behind striker Zouheir El-Moutaraji, who was also on target against the Guineans.
The WAC’s center backs Cheick Comara and Achraf Dari will look to continue the team’s impressive run of eight clean sheets in nine home matches in the CAF Champions League.
Botswana referee Joshua Bondo will be in charge of the game between Wydad and Sundowns.
The other semi-final will see defending champions Esperance de Tunis battle it out against TP Mazembe on Saturday in Tunis.
Esperance and Mazembe have previously won the coveted trophy, and experience will come to the fore when the two sides face each other over two legs.
