Why it’s important for Sundowns to finish top of the CAF table

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has urged South Africans to rally behind his team in his their quest for CAF Champions League glory.

Sundowns face familiar foes Wydad Casablanca of Morocco at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday in their final group stage match where ending at the top of the pool is at stake.

The two sides – who will be meeting for the 10th time in the premier continental competition since 2017 – have already secured their place in the knockout stage by virtue of their unassailable positions in Group C.

Finishing top of the group comes with the advantage of being seeded during the draw for the quarterfinals, as well as the right to host the return leg.

“The game against Wydad is forever a derby. Those games are never easy as much as we both have qualified [for the knockout stage],” explained Mosimane, adding that there’s also a lot of pride at stake.

“But most importantly, it is [about] who finishes first in the group. We want to finish first because we want to avoid playing the number ones in other groups ... the Esperances and the TP Mazembes.

Basically it’s like fighting to qualify. [The game against Wydad] is at that level.”

Sundowns top the table with 11 points from five matches, while Wydad have nine from as many outings, with Petro de Luanda (3 points) and USM Alger (2 points) already eliminated.

A draw will be enough for Sundowns to seal the deal atop the standings, while a defeat will see them end second – the permutations are as simple as that.

Mosimane believes his players don’t need to be psyched up given the stature of the opponents, who are yet to beat the South Africans at home.

“This is a big game that we don’t have to psyche the players. They know that there’s pride at stake and why we want to finish number one. It’s a game that our supporters want to see. It’s game that the continent is waiting for. It’s a game North Africa want to see and I’m not talking about Morocco only. Egypt and Tunisia will be watching because any of their teams are capable of going to the semifinals.”

It is therefore Mosimane is urging the nation to give Masandawana a boost in Atteridgeville on Saturday afternoon.

“Let’s make an impact as South Africans. I remember when we played the [first leg of the] final here [in Atteridgeville] against Zamalek [in 2016], the whole of South Africa was here. I had never seen South Africa united like that. It was like when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup [last year]; the whole country was united. I believe our people will come to the match.

“We need not look at the emblem of Mamelodi Sundowns but the national flag that we’ll be wearing on Saturday. The yellow nation [Sundowns supporters] have carried us. They are our 12th player. The challenge is to match Wydad. If we are expected to match them on the pitch, I would like to believe that our supporters would also want to put the challenge against Wydad.”

•  The quarterfinal draw is set for Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday (February 5) and if Sundowns attain the top spot they will meet either Zamalek of Egypt‚ Raja Casablanca from Morocco and likely either Egypts’ Al Ahly or Al Hilal from Sudan.