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Mamelodi Sundowns have been named favorites against their two Sudanese opponents in the CAF Champions League group stage despite the period of inactivity they had to sit out.
Due to the Africa Cup of Nations competition, Sundowns last played before Christmas and will return to action next month. The Brazilians had no players represented in the AFCON final while their first two group stage opponents, Al Hilal Omdurman and Al Merreikh both provided half of the players for Sudan’s 28-man squad.
The Brazilians host Al Hilal on February 11 in the CAF Champions League before traveling to Al Merreikh the following week and then further north to Al Ahly for their third match of the competition in a fortnight.
Al Hilal had seven players in the Sudanese squad namely – Ali Abu Eshrein, Abdel Raouf, Mohamed Abdelrahman, Gumaa Abas, Mustafa Elfadni, Ishaq Adam and Waliedin Khedr.
Then, with Al Merreikh, they also had the same squad in captain Salaheldin Nemer, Mustafa Karshoum, Mohamed Hossein, Mohamed Al Rashed, Dhiya Mahjoub, Al-Jezoli Nouh and Mohamed Mustafa.
However, the two Sudanese clubs last played in October, with their domestic championship only starting next month (February 8).
“The Sundowns game with the two Sudanese teams is difficult, especially since the league in Sudan has not started,” said Sudanese journalist Dar Al-Naim Abdin.
“The South African league, which is known for its strength and competition, continues (after the break). This confirms that the South African team will be ready unlike the clubs in Sudan whose league has not started. clubs here are satisfied with only friendly matches to prepare for the game.
“However, I want Sudanese teams to win despite the difference in equipment and ability between South African and Sudanese clubs,” Abdin said.
The Brazilians will have to finish first or second in the group to advance to the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Pitso Mosimane’s Al Ahly have six players in Egypt’s AFCON squad which will face Ivory Coast in the last eight on Wednesday.
