Angola’s crown jewel, Atlético Petróleos de Luanda, go on a collision course tonight against one of the raising dominant forces in African club football, Mamelodi Sundowns, marking a return to Champions League (CAF CL) tonight. Continetal games away from home are hostile, the Angolans will be well aware of that. Pretoria has one of the most warmest and vibrant supporters in modern football. On their day, Sundowns can decimate any formidable club.
Pretoria – Mamelodi Sundowns swing back into Confederation of Africa Football Champions League (CAF CL) against Atlético Petróleos de Luanda at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria Saturday night, Nov. 30, 2019.
This Group C match in particular kicks off at 21h00, South African time.
Talking on Radio 2000 about the night kick off and the importannce of the game itself, Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane said they are used to playing at night because that is the usual time in this tournament especially up north in Africa. It is crucial to win home games to stay for a long haul and stake a claim in this continetal showpiece, he added.
Themba “Mshishi” Zwane, one of the Sundowns’ talismen, is still smarting over a hamstring injury. According to the coach, he is not yet ready for competitive football action.
Business Day reported that Themba “Mshishi” Zwane has been sidelined for almost two months with a hamstring injury and while he has started light training‚ he is not fully fit assume mainstream football action.
Furthermore, the Business Day quoted Mosimane saying:“Look‚ we need him because we are struggling… I think we are going to need him more for the long haul than be worried about him being available for the game against the Angolans this weekend.”
Although it is vital for Sundowns to win this match, Petro de Luanda are not a pushover by any measure. Just like Sundowns in domestic (elite) league, they lay second in their domestic (elite) league, Girabola, the equivalent of the PSL (Premier Soccer League) in South Africa.
According to Soccerway, they have won Girabola on two occasions. There is no denying, those achievements are a far cry from Sundowns’ jaw-dropping milestones. Nevertheless, today they meet in their first-leg round where maximum points are up for grabs.
Group C: USM Alger vs Wydad Casablanca
On another first-leg Group C clash, Algeria’s USM Alger host Morocco’s Wydad/WAC Casablanca at Stade Omar Hamadi Stadium in Algiers today at 18h00.