AFL: Sundowns host Wydad in nervy final showdown
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Mamelodi Sundowns will be hoping to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Wydad AC in Casablanca. Internet

Mamelodi Sundowns will be hoping to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Wydad AC in Casablanca last week when they welcome the Moroccans to Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, in the second-leg of the 2023 African Football League final on Sunday, November 12.

The South African "Brazilians" have an arduous task before their home supporters as they seek to become the very first club to win the African Football League.

In terms of head-to-head, this is going to be their 14th meeting, with Wydad having an edge ahead of Sundowns, winning five matches, drawing five and losing three times.

The most recent result also in favor of the Moroccan giants as they edged Sundwons 2-1 in the first leg of the AFL final at Stade Mohamed V last week.

Sundowns head coach Rulanj Mokwena insists his men did their best in a very intimidating stadium in vain before firing a warning to the Moroccan side that the atmosphere inside Loftus Versfeld Stadium can help them finish the job in the return leg fixture.

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"We played in many stadiums but the most difficult one is Casablanca. We gave everything in the first leg and tried to win that game but we were unfortunate. We will go all out at home and try to write our names in history.” Rulani Mokwena said.

On his part, Adil Ramzi, a former Morocco international who now coaches Wydad maintains that he is very pleased with the output of his side and Sundowns as both teams play good football.

"For the first time, I feel that football is playing against football. I like to play football and the Sundowns coach is the same. I have a lot of respect for him", he stressed.

Marcelo Allende, Thapelo Maseko and Peter Shalulile will be hoping to form an attacking threat for Sundowns as they aim to break the Wydad's defensive wall while midfielder Anas Serrhat, who came from the bench to score in the first leg, may start for Wydad alongside Attiah-Allah who was arguably the best player in the first leg.