Collen Hans
Itumeleng Masite
It’s a blockbuster Friday for Mzansi’s Betway Premiership giants, Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Orlando Pirates FC.
The two outfits are expected to lock horns with their North African counterparts AL Ahly and Pyramid FC respectively in a CAF TotalEnergies Champions League mouth-watering second leg semi-final.
More than a dozen Football pundits have made prognostic predictions following a double pulsating first leg 0-0 stalemate during their meeting last weekend.
Majority of them have made it clear the South African outfits have slim chances of getting a win in a hostile and packed to the rafter’s crowd in Egypt.
Their prediction was triggered and precipitated by the goals that were scored by their opponent s and reversed by the VAR as offside and a handball respectively.
As a result the final scores for both teams ended in a goalless draw.
At first at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Downs appeared to be playing to absorb the game without conceding and maintain an injury free solid team in preparation of the tough second final leg humdinger which will benefit them if they manage to score for a win or draw, thanks to the away rule goal.
At FNB Stadium, a see saw affair and high octane encounter was at best display between the two outfits Pirates and Pyramids FC.
At the end of the evening the Buccaneers were also made to sweat for the goalless draw after being saved by the VAR that cancelled two illegitimate goals scored by Pyramids.
Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller is on record disclosing his plans for the second leg CAF Champions League clash against Mamelodi Sundowns, cautioning that Sundowns won’t replicate what Orlando Pirates achieved in Cairo.
According to iDiski Times Pyramids FC head coach Krunoslav Jurčić reckons they were unlucky not to come away with a win in the first leg and will aim to make up for that against Orlando Pirates in order to reach the CAF Champions League final.
Bucs Gaffer, Jose Riveiro told journalist during the post match conference it was a good game played by both teams.
“Good opportunities for both teams. It’s a game that should have finished with goals. It’s the best team we have played so far. We will try to get the result we need in Egypt. It’s not an easy one for both teams.
DID YOU KNOW?
Al Ahly vs Mamelodi Sundowns Friday 25 April 2025 18:00
Cairo International Stadium.
Pyramids vs Orlando Pirates 25 April 2025 20: 00
30 June Stadium in Cairo
