Mamelodi Sundowns may be the African champions but after yesterday’s performance, they are slowly but surely starting to prove that they could be more than that and are setting the benchmark of African football at this point.
Masandawana represented Africa once again at a Fifa competition when they went pound for pound against the back-to-back Asian champions, Al Ahli Saudi, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane.
The Brazilians unleashed their “shoe-shine and piano” when they beat the Saudi Arabian giants 2-1 to lift the Fifa African Asian-Pacific Cup and advance to the semi-finals of the Fifa Intercontinental Cup.
Sundowns will now face either Mexican club Toluca or the team that wins the Copa Libertadores in South America in the semi-finals.
READ: Mamelodi Sundowns advance to Fifa Intercontinental Cup semi-finals
If coach Miguel Cardoso’s side wins the semi, they will set up a meeting with European champions Paris Saint-Germain, who are the holders of the Intercontinental Cup and have automatically qualified for the final.
What a way to reintroduce themselves at the highest level of football after the Fifa Club World Cup last year! They couldn’t have asked for a better way to do so – they did it on home soil with the South African drum beating like never before in the capital.
The two-headed goals by Nuno Santos from both halves were top-notch. How they were orchestrated by the two Bafana Bafana fullbacks – Aubrey Modiba and Thabang Matuludi – showed how far the level of South African football has improved.
READ: We will be representing Africa against Al Ahli – Miguel Cardoso
Granted, the silly mistakes and things like defensive organisation, composure and decision-making expose how far off we are from the world – for instance, how that first goal was conceded – but the players were probably too excited after the first goal and lapsed in concentration and were caught napping.
It’s the small and finer details that set us apart from the world standard. But best believe and trust that SA or even African football is not far off. Sundowns held their own from start to finish and emerged victorious on the day.
Kudos to their fans for coming out in their numbers but imagine if they did not choose games and packed Loftus to the rafters at least every weekend. Imagine what it would do for the team and the players.
These are African champions and global ambassadors, for crying out loud.
- Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Asian champions Al Ahli Saudi 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to win the Fifa African Asian-Pacific Cup and advance to the Fifa Intercontinental Cup semi-finals.
- Nuno Santos scored two goals for Sundowns, with significant assists from fullbacks Aubrey Modiba and Thabang Matuludi.
- Sundowns will face either Mexican club Toluca or the winner of South America's Copa Libertadores in the semi-finals.
- If Sundowns win the semi-finals, they will play European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
- The team's performance demonstrated the progress of South African football despite some defensive lapses and concentration issues during the match.
