Sundowns gunning for glory in Cairo vs. Pyramids

Rhulani Mokwena says Mamelodi Sundowns are gunning for glory as they visit Pyramids in Cairo for their CAF Champions League match on Tuesday.

Sundowns played to a goalless draw against the Egyptian side at home last week and will now target all the full three points.

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Mokwena says while it will not be an easy match in Cairo, their mission is to win the clash and finish as Group A winners.

Sundowns have four points from three matches in the group and the match against Pyramids pushes them to go for a kill.

This also comes as Group A remains open with three games to go before the stage, all the clubs, TP Mazembe, Pyramids, and Nouadhibou FC have four points – but Sundowns lead on goal difference.

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SUNDOWNS GUNNING FOR GLORY IN CAIRO VS. PYRAMIDS

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Mokwena now wants to measure his troops’ progress following their African Football League glory and will also look to avoid their second loss in the group.

“It’s very important [to win against Pyramids], but we know we have three games to go and in the three games we’ve got enough to make sure we get a [positive] result,”: says Mokwena per TimesLIVE. 

“We’ve got two away matches. The first is this one in Cairo against the Pyramids and then we go to Mauritania, which will be very difficult because it is on an artificial pitch and the conditions are extremely difficult with the weather there.   

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“Hopefully by then we will know what we need to do against Mazembe to make sure we not only qualify from the group but also finish first.  

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“But let’s take it one game at a time because we’ve got some very difficult games before the end of the year.”   

RHULANI MOKWENA AWARE OF PYRAMIDS’ THREAT

The Masandawana mentor says he watched a glimpse of the Egyptian Premier League side’s matches and expects a tough encounter.

Mokwena anticipates a much-altered Pyramids from the defensive team that held Downs to a goalless draw a week ago in Tshwane. 

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“I got a glimpse of watching their midweek game when they played a 2-2 draw [against Baladiyat El Mahalla SC]. It is a game they should have won,” he adds.

“There were four players who didn’t start against us but started that league game. [Abdallah] El Said, the captain, had a very good game; [Mostafa] Fathi started and he had a good game; [Fiston] Mayele was upfront; [Ali] Gabr was playing and I think maybe to prepare him to replace Osama [Galal].   

“But they are still a very strong team with Walid El Karti aggressive in the midfield with a lot of intensity. Fagrie Lakay will always be busy and look for space behind.

“They have very good fullbacks in Hamdy Sharaf and Mohamed Chibi. They are a good team with a lot of good players. They also have Ramadan Sobhi, who didn’t play the midweek league fixture.  

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“But we have done a lot of work to analyse the performance of [Pyramids] against TP Mazembe at home, which is completely different to the performance they had when they played us at home.   

“It looks like it’s a team that has different personalities for home and away fixtures. But we are ready, and we have done our homework and are excited to be here and make sure we win the match.”

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