Reigning South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns will on Saturday night look to gain advantage in their quest to clinch their second CAF Champions League title as they take on Morocco’s Wydad AC in the first leg of the tournament semifinals at the Stade Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.Sundowns, which also rounds up to be the home of Kenyan international Brian Mandela – made their way into the semis after a convincing 6-2 aggregate victory over Algeria’s CR Belouizdad.##NAJAVA_MECA_7255621##Wydad, on the other hand, sneaked through to the last four courtesy of post-match penalties victory over Tanzania’s Simba in the second-leg tie that ended 1-1.These two sides have met 10 times before, and ties between them have been closely contested. Wydad has won four of the 10 matches with Sundowns winning three, while the rest have ended in draws.🚨𝑮 𝑨 𝑴 𝑬 𝑫 𝑨 𝒀🚨🆚 Wydad AC ⏰ 21H00🏟 Stade Mohammed V 📺 SS 202 #Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #Rabatsena pic.twitter.com/EAEid193vH— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) May 13, 2023 Wydad, making an appearance in the semifinals of the CAFCL for the seventh time in the last eight editions of the tournament, will have a new man in the dugout after Juan Carlos Garrido resigned last week, leading up to the appointment of new manager Sven Vandenbroeck. CAF: Percy shows no mercy! Al Ahly with one foot in the tournament’s showpiece“I’m proud to be here, to wear a WAC jersey,” Vandenbroeck told Supersport after his appointment. “For the end of the season, we need everyone to support us. Be there for every match, follow us, support us and we will do what is necessary.”The Brazilians coach Rulani Mokwena on the buildup to the game expressed wary of facing Wydad saying: “The profile of the team before the new coach came was that they had good players, aggressive wing players and aggressive possibility to threaten on the counter attack.All eyes on the semis! 👀Are you ready for it? 🔥#TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/F7aH4s6Rlo— TotalEnergies CAFCL – TotalEnergies CAFCC 🏆 (@CAFCLCC) May 11, 2023 “On the pressing, they look a little bit higher and there’s a bit more emphasis on build-up which looks more with [Houcine] Benayada’s influence. But we have to just continue doing the work and profile.”Their last meeting against the Moroccan champions was in the group stages of the 2019-20 season, when Sundowns won 1-0 at home, having drawn 0-0 in Casablanca. Al Ahly’s Tactical Wizardry: How Marcel Kohler’s gameplan overwhelmed EsperanceOf the three victories against Wydad, none has come in Casablanca, and the best was a draw in the group stages of the 2019-20 season. They have lost four of the last five matches they have played in North Africa. They have scored only once in Casablanca, while conceding five.Following the first leg tie that kicks off at 2200 EAT, Sundowns will host the second leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on 20 May.
