Al Hilal SC head coach Laurențiu Reghecampf has acknowledged the quality of Mamelodi Sundowns but remains confident his side can overcome the South African giants when the two teams meet on Matchday 3 of the CAF Champions League group stage.
The Group C clash is scheduled for Friday, January 23, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Johannesburg, with kickoff set for 18:00 CAT.
Al Hilal departed Kigali for Johannesburg on Tuesday morning at 11:00 CAT aboard RwandAir as they prepare for one of their toughest tests of the campaign. The Sudanese giants are unbeaten in their opening two group matches, having defeated MC Alger in Kigali before earning a draw away to St Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi, DR Congo. Both fixtures were played in November 2025.
Reghecampf’s side currently sit second in Group C with four points, trailing leaders Sundowns only on goal difference.
Friday’s encounter could significantly shape the group standings, with victory for either team likely to see them finish the first round of matches at the top of the table.
"It is a key group stage match where we want to continue our momentum against a strong Sundowns side,” Reghecampf told Times Sport.
"I know Mamelodi Sundowns quite well and how they play. I understand their style of football, and the good thing is that we have been playing in the Rwandan league, which is also fast improving and has given us a challenge. So we will be ready for the game.”
The Romanian coach stressed that his preparations go beyond a single fixture. "I am not preparing my team only for the Mamelodi Sundowns game, but rather for the entire competition,” he said, adding that his side is ready to face "one of the best teams” in Africa.
Al Hilal head into the continental showdown in excellent domestic form, having won eight consecutive matches in the Rwanda Premier League. They currently top the table with 35 points, one ahead of second-placed Police FC.
Reghecampf believes that consistency can translate to success on the continental stage as his team pushes for qualification to the knockout phase. "I’m confident about our chances of going past the first round. We are in a position where expectations are always very high. Sometimes when we achieve things, it looks like it is not enough, so we need to keep pushing ourselves,” he said.
The rivalry between Al Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns has produced closely contested encounters in recent CAF Champions League campaigns. The sides played to a goalless draw in the 2020/2021 group stage in Khartoum, while Sundowns claimed a narrow 1–0 victory in the 2022/2023 opening group match courtesy of a Cassius Mailula goal.
With both teams separated only by goal difference, another tightly fought contest is expected as they battle for supremacy in Group C.
Group C standing
Mamelodi Sundowns 4 points
Al Hilal 4 points
MC Alger 1 point
St Éloi Lupopo 1 point