- The highly anticipated match will occur at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium, following the first-leg encounter in Casablanca, Morocco, on November 5.
On November 12, 2023, football fans will witness an enthralling showdown as Morocco's Wydad Athletic Club, three-time African champions, face off against South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns in the African heavyweight club champions finals.
The highly anticipated match will occur at Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium, following the first-leg encounter in Casablanca, Morocco, on November 5.
In the first leg, Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 2-1 defeat away from home, giving them a slight disadvantage according to the tournament rules due to conceding a goal on their home turf.
However, the pivotal away goal from Abdelmonem Boutouil's penalty provides the South African side with an added advantage. Playing on their home soil, with a passionate crowd filling the 90,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld Stadium, they are determined to claim their first-ever historic African victory.
Despite the one-goal deficit from the first leg, Mamelodi's coach, Rhulani Mokwena, remains optimistic about overturning the result on November 12. He commended the top-notch performance of his team in the hostile away environment and expressed confidence in their ability to triumph over their opponents.
Read More
Mokwena revealed that they would adopt a more negative and tactical game plan to secure victory, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of the championship.
Mamelodi Sundowns enter the finals as favourites, having faced and overcome challenging opponents throughout their journey. Their semi-final encounter against Egypt's Al Ahly saw them secure a 1-0 victory at home before a draw on away grounds.
Al Ahly had an impressive campaign in their domestic league before reaching the African Club Champions League semi-finals. Mamelodi Sundowns' triumph over Al Ahly in the previous stage showcased their strength and determination.
They are now set to face Wydad Casablanca, who stunned Al Ahly to claim the CAF Champions League title last season.
Coach Mokwena is enthusiastic and determined as his team approaches the final showdown against the North African giants. He pledged to employ every means possible, recognizing the historic significance of the moment for Mamelodi Sundowns and African football as a whole.
Resting players and preparing for a fierce battle against Wydad is their priority as they strive to become African Club Champions League champions.
The magnitude of the tournament is reflected in the substantial cash prize awaiting the victors. The winners will receive a staggering 4 million USD, while the runners-up will take home 3 million USD.
Semi-finalists will be awarded 1,700,000 USD each, and quarter-finalists will receive 1,000,000 USD each.