South Africa’s three representatives in African club competition return to continental assignments this weekend with Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch all looking for positive results that will enhance their hopes of advancing past the group phase and into the knockout stage.
Pirates can take a giant step towards the African Champions League quarter-finals if they win at home on Saturday against Stade Abidjan, who are the bottom club in Group C. It would be a major surprise if they do not, considering how they dominated the Ivory Coast club away in Abidjan before Christmas.
The Buccaneers should have won there but squandered numerous chances after going into the lead and let Stade come back to score from a corner.
Mamelodi Sundowns are back in Morocco this weekend in Group B action. This time they are away against Raja Casablanca, having drawn 1-1 with Royal Armed Forces on their previous trip.
Raja finished ahead of the army club in last season’s Moroccan title race but have been out of sorts this season and are yet to win. Sundowns beat Raja 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld on December 15 but with new coach Miguel Cardoso are likely to employ a much more defensive strategy in Casablanca on Saturday and it will be no surprise if they come away with a draw.
Under their previous coaches, Sundowns would have been more daring with an expansive approach away from home but the psyche of the Latin coaches is a lot different with safety the first priority. Cardoso has been in charge for four games since being appointed Sundowns coach and they have not conceded a goal.
Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces are best placed to hold onto their lead, which they shared at the halfway point of the group competition with Sundowns on five points.
Both teams have a single victory and two draws from their opening five matches but the army club look to have an easier tie as they are at home on Saturday to rookies Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Royal Armed Forces are hosting their match in Meknes as their stadium in Rabat is under renovation while there is concern over the standard of the playing surface at Casablanca’s Stade Larbi Zaouli where Raja are hosting the Brazilians.
In the African Confederation Cup, Stellenbosch are home to Angola club Desportivo Lunda-Sul, although because of the lack of a venue in the Cape are hosting Sunday’s match at Loftus Versfeld. Stellenbosch grabbed a late winner in Luanda against the Angolan outfit last month to revive their chances after losing their opening two group matches.
