Sundowns ready and excited to take on Wydad in Casablanca cauldron

Rulani Mokwena says Mamelodi Sundowns are well versed in coping with intimidating away venues, as they prepare to take on Wydad Casablanca today in the first leg of their Caf Champions League semifinal at a packed Stade Mohammed V.

Wydad are the Champions League holders and should provide Sundowns with their toughest test yet in the competition, even though the Moroccan giants have undergone some disruption behind the scenes, sacking Spanish coach Juan Carlos Garrido, and bringing in Belgian Sven Vanderbroek.

Hostile environments

Mokwena belives that Sundowns have already shown in this season’s Champions League that they have what it takes to stand up to hostile environments, pointing to their 2-2 draw with Al Ahly in Cairo in the group stages, and their even more impressive 4-1 win at Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in the quarterfinals.

“It is important how we absorb the atmosphere,” said Mokwena.

“We did that already, we showed in Cairo we can play in front of a hostile away crowd, and in Algeria. In the Champions League you have to get used to playing away matches … we are happy to be here, we want to stay in the competition for a long time and that means you have to play every game to win, and at the same time you have to enjoy the moment.”

If Mokwena has prepared his side for off-the-field conditions, he has also prepared them for those on the pitch today, as in his pre-match press conference, he gave a typically thorough assessment of how Wydad might play in this first leg.

“They are a good team, defensively they are very strong and experienced … they have quality players in every position. Their goalkeeper (Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti) is a Moroccan international. Their left back (Yahia) Attiat Allah is a full Moroccan international and had a very good World Cup (Morocco reached the semifinals at Qatar 2022).

“(Yahya) Jabrane is back, he is one of their best players, he makes the team play, he is aggressive and strong on the ball, he is especially important from set pieces, and the number ten (Aymen El-Hassouni) behind the striker (Junior) Sambou, he supports the play and is very aggressive.”