Sundowns aiming to bounce back quickly from Magesi setback
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Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to put the weekend’s disappointment behind them when they host AS Maniema Union in the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, November 26.
Kick-off is at 6pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
The pressure is mounting on Manqoba Mngqithi after his side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Betway Premiership newcomers Magesi in the Carling Knockout final on Saturday, November 23.
It was the third time in the space of two seasons that Bafana ba Style had lost in a final after they succumbed to Orlando Pirates in the 2023 MTN8 and the 2024 Nedbank Cup.
The Brazilians had won their previous four games in all competitions since Polokwane City brought an end to their perfect start to the league campaign with a surprise 1-0 win on October 27.
Sundowns qualified for the group stages of Africa’s elite club competition by beating Mbabane Swallows 8-0 on aggregate in the preliminary second round two months ago.
AS Maniema Union are flying high in Ligue 1 after going undefeated in their opening seven fixtures to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table with two games in hand on Dauphins Noirs.
The Green and Blacks edged Celeste 1-0 on November 20 to make it four straight wins in the DR Congolese top flight after dropping their first points in back-to-back draws with Aigles du Congo (0-0) and Motema Pembe (1-1) in October.
Guy Lusadisu’s side are making their debut in the CAF Champions League proper, having overcome Ngezi Platinum on penalties in the preliminary first round before seeing off Petro de Luanda 2-1 on aggregate in the second round.