TP Mazembe coach makes Sundowns honest admission ahead of CAF encounter
TP Mazembe head coach Lamine Ndiaye has made an honest admission about Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of their highly-anticipated CAF Champions League encounter.
Ndiaye is looking ahead to a potential repeat victory against Sundowns but acknowledged the challenge of playing away in Pretoria.
With a healthy lead in the DStv Premiership, a Nedbank Cup Last 16 spot booked, Sundowns turn their attention to continental football in a last group stage match against TP Mazembe in the Champions League.
Masandawana, the 2016 CAF champions, will lock horns with the five times winners in Pretoria, at the Lucas Moripe stadium on Saturday afternoon, with the match scheduled for 15:00.
The Tshwane giants have established a range of formations and tactics under Mokwena, with several players operating in different positions at times as the team keeps their winning momentum in all competitions.
Sundowns’ use of inverted full-back has been the notable tactical innovation, of late, that has helped the DStv Premiership defending champions on their quest to win the first edition of the African Football League [AFL] trophy last year.
The two African football giants, however, have already qualified for the last eight of the Champions League. They have collected ten points each in group A after five games, in which Mazembe beat the Brazilians in the first leg in Congo in December 2023.
Nevertheless, in history, the Chloorkop-based giants have won five times against the Congolese side, meanwhile Mazembe claimed only three victory in eight games they have played so far.
‘WE ARE PLAYING AGAINST THE BEST TEAM IN AFRICA’: TP MAZEMBE COACH NDIAYE
Speaking in his pre-match press conference as ‘The Ravens’ prepare to face Sundowns, Ndiaye was full of praise for Mokwena’s charges.
Although, the 67-year-old Senegalese tactician admitted that Mokwena and his troops are the “best team” currently in Africa, Ndiaye stood firm that they will finish top of the group.
“We are here to play against Mamelodi Sundowns, the best team right now on the continent, so it’s essential to plan and play to win collectively,” said Ndiaye in Pretoria.
“As I said, Sundowns are currently the best team in Africa, so beating them will make me very proud because it’s difficult to beat them.
“I believe they need revenge because they lost against us at home, but we’ll do our best to win. It will be difficult, as I say, but we came here for positive results.
“Every time we play for joy when we have already qualified, but it’s essential to play to win this game. The goal is to top the group; it’s either we get a draw, or we win the match. Our goal is to be the group leaders.”
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By Clifton Mabasa