It’s been a disappointing week for all South African football lovers who witnessed our national team fail to qualify for yet another major tournament after losing 2-0 to Sudan.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Now, as part of revenge, we get to send our fiercest club to the North East of Africa where Mamelodi Sundowns will take on Al-Hilal Omdurman in Sudan.
Elsewhere, Kaizer Chiefs get to avenge their 4-0 defeat against Wydad Casablanca when they host the Moroccan champions this weekend. Lastly, Al Ahli Benghazi host Orlando Pirates in matchday three of their CAF Confederations Cup group stage encounter.
Friday 2 April
Al-Hilal Omdurman vs Mamelodi Sundowns (18:00)
Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to complete the double
over Sudan’s Al-Hilal Omdurman after putting their North-East African rivals to
the sword in Pretoria. After winning in Lubumbashi and Algeria, Sundowns will
be confident of overcoming any hurdle set by Al-Hilal. The hosts are yet to
pick up their first win in the CAF Champions League group stages thus far,
holding TP Mazembe and CR Belouizdad to a goalless draw at home. Sundowns
should win this fairly comfortably
Saturday 3 April
Kaizer Chiefs vs Wydad Casablanca (18:00)
The common belief among football supporters seem to be that
Kaizer Chiefs have been doing relatively well in the CAF Champions League.
However, in their previous tie against Wydad Casablanca, the Glamour Boys were
battered 4-0 in Morocco. Since then, Chiefs have gone on to beat Petro de
Luanda and held the same opposition to a goalless draw in Angola. Wydad, on the
other hand, are unbeaten in the tournament so far and more impressively, are
yet to concede a single goal. I expect Wydad to win this one as well.
Sunday 4 April
Al Ahli Benghazi vs Orlando Pirates (21:00)
The first of Orlando Pirates’ double header with Al Ahli
Benghazi will be played in Libya as Josef Zinnbauer’s charges look to keep
their unbeaten run intact. After two matches, Pirates earned a goalless draw at
ES Setif before humbling Enyimba to a 2-1 defeat back in Soweto. For the hosts,
they’ve managed to get three points after two games, beating ES Setif on home
soil after losing 2-1 in Nigeria to Enyimba. On paper, Pirates are slight
favourites, but I think they’ll return home with just a point here.
Written by Jesse Nagel
