All African football eyes will turn their focus to Morocco at Stadia Mohammed on Friday when current CAF champions clash with 2016 Champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Waydad Casablanca welcome sundowns in what is to be a mouth-watering continental fixture with the hope of solidifying their giant step towards the quarterfinals.
On top of their metamorphosis, Waydad Casablanca have not lost a CAF champions game in thier own territory since last year September. Thier only loss was a one nil lose against Sundowns which they managed to level in thier subsequent fixture. They eventually went all the way to win the CAF champions league 2017.
This is going to be a really tough task for the visitors. The two could not be separated in thier last meeting as the clash ended in a stalemate of 1-1. They each recorded a sole victory against each other.
Understanding Group C.
In this group, every participant still stand a chance of making it to the next round numerically.
Waydad are sitting short gun with eight points and two games to spare. They go into the game against Sundowns knowing exactly that they need to snitch nothing less than a point in order to solidify their way to the next round.
Whilst Sundowns are sitting second with only five points attained from thier two draws and one win. They level of points with Horoya but due to goal difference, they found themselves sitting second ahead of the giant of Guinea.
As togo port are bottom with three points also with two games remaining. They will need to resurface from thier humdrum performance and put in a strenuous effort because in a hindsight view thier route is more than an uphill battle.
Group C Next round qualification scenarios.
Usually like in any other world and continental football tournament wherein teams belonging to different association embark in groups form of qualifications. At the end in an ensuing situation, we are forced to take out our personal digital assistants to break the chances of how each team must perform in order to progress to the next round.
In the case of group c.Waydad Casablanca currently have eight points. If they beat Sundowns on Friday they are through to the next round.
However, failure to win or accumulate anything less that a point does not write them off. They have another chance to seal the group away to AS-Togo port.
For the second placed Mamelodi sundowns three points is a requisite. Six points from thier remaining games including thier Friday clash will then mean they are on top of the log with eleven points if Waydad fail to win all of thier remaining games.
Situation at Horoya is similar to the one of Sundowns evidenced by the five points tie. They host bottom placed As togo. Horoya will seal thier group campaign away to Sundowns in Pretoria.
Arguably for As togo port to participate in the next rounds, they need to win all of thier remaining games. They face Horoya and Waydad Casablanca. They hope Waydad beat Sundowns and go on to thier next game respectively against them.
Tactical Approach
Mamelodi sundowns are yet to win an away CAF fixture from thier notable throng of CAF games.
Coach Pitso Mosimane seems to have invented a psychodynamic game approach of some sort of one point away and three points at home.
Testament to that hindsight is thier last away CAF fixtures where in they approach the game with a defending 4-4-2 formation comprise of a load centre backs.
Not withstanding the fact that each game approach has it special upsides but Pitso’s usual defending approach is often outgunned in thier center half. Most mistakes are done by his defense. Often they are seen failing to endure the transition of thier opponent.
In 2016 the system worked with Hlompo Kekana and Tiyani Mabunda as the deepest midfielders. The team was able to switch from defence to attack very rapidly due to thier passing range and the speed on the counter of players such as Karma Billiat and Percy Tau.
Worries
It is uncertain whether goalkeeper Dennis Onyango will be shortlisted for the first eleven. Onyango succumbed a concussion against Golden Arrows over the weekend.
That will mean new recruit Reyaad Pieterse will be in the goal post for Masandawana should Onyango fail to recover fast.
Pre-season recruit Lyle Lakey is ineligible to play. He participated at CAF Confederation cup this year with his previous club cape town city .CAF forbid players to represent different clubs in continental club competitions in the same year.
On the other hand , New signings will Andile Jali , Silva and Meza are available for selection.
Coach Pitso Mosimane
I don’t think that Wydad will give you an opportunity for an all-out attack,” Mosimane said.
“They are a big team, they are a strong team. You will see a sea of red in the stands. You know the story. They will push us back. We need to be compact. We need to be smart. We can get a few breaks”.
” You don’t get many opportunities there. But Sundowns always gets one or two chances to score. We need to manage that. If we don’t win, get a draw. But we mustn’t sit back and park the bus, we must play because they know that we can play. They saw it here that we pushed them.
“They respect us. I need to get the right balance in midfield for that match. I need tigers for that match, people who will grind to get a result. It might not look pretty but we must keep going and probing. If you get three points, then you’ll be happy.
One might also be enough because we have to sort out Horoya here in our last game. That game is a do-or-die. We must beat Horoya here or otherwise in means we must win in Casablanca. The Togolese might do us a favour by causing an upset and holding Horoya to a draw because I don’t think they’ll win. It’s tough in Guinea.”
“Wydad are a difficult team. They know how to manage the game. They play cleverly. You must be careful of penalties. They are very good in set-pieces. We conceded a goal from a corner kick the last time we played them. When the time favours them they delay the game. They do anything. You know the North Africans. The Champions League is a different cattle of fish. It’s an awkward tournament. But we know how to play it. It has its problems with travelling.” said Pitso Mosimane
Possible Line-up
Here is how the 2016 CAF champions could line up on Friday.
Onyango, Langerman, Madisha, Arendse, Ngcongca, Kekana, Jali, Vilakazi, Zwane, Sirino and Brockie.
Kickoff time is 20:00
