Following Mamelodi Sundowns’ historic opening victory at the FIFA Club World Cup, Iqraam Rayners has weighed in on the Brazilians’ prospects of reaching the knockout stages.
Rayners scored the all-important goal as Sundowns registered their first-ever victory at the Club World Cup, beating Ulsan HD 1-0 at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday morning in a Group F encounter.
The first was also the first win for an African nation at the 2025 edition after Al Ahly, Esperance and Wydad Casablanca failed to register wins in their opening games.
With the Brazilians now sitting at the top of their group, which also features Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense FC, all eyes are on whether they can secure a spot in the knockout stages of the prestigious global tournament.
RAYNERS OPTIMISTIC OF SUNDOWNS’ CHANCES OF REACHING THE KNOCKOUT STAGES
The former Stellenbosch FC striker, who joined Sundowns at the start of the 2024/26 season, is confident that Sundowns can make it to the Club World Cup knockout stages.
“I just want to say thanks to my teammates, the coaches, and the supporters that were behind us tonight [Wednesday], and for us as a team, it was all about getting our first win, and I’m happy we got it, and we need to focus on the next game,” Rayners said.
“It always feels good to score goals, and I just need to keep on pushing, focus on the next two games, and that’s what matters. Every game will be special for us, we are playing against big teams in this tournament, and I’m happy for my teammates for the fight and the victory.
“Yes I believe we will [reach knockout stages] and for us as a team we just need to take it one game at a time and we need to focus on the next one and whatever happens in the next one happens but I think we can go through and we just need to keep on helping each other fighting and that’s all.”
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