How Mamelodi Sundowns Can Defeat Esperance to Reach This Season’s CAF Champions League Final

• Mamelodi Sundowns vs Esperance of Tunisia continues to gather momentum ahead of the second-leg
• The PSL side will need to overturn a first-leg deficit if they hope to reach the CAF Champions League final
• Rulani Mokwena's side must ensure they do not concede, while they must score at least two goals

Mamelodi Sundowns will look to overturn their first-leg 1-0 loss to Esperance of Tunisia in the CAF Champions League semi-final in the reverse fixture slated for Friday.

Brazilian striker Yan Sasse netted the only goal of the game in the 41st minute to give his side a slim win inside the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.

Rulani Mokwena's side will play their 46th match of the season amid a draining schedule across six competitions.

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Days before the first leg, the Premier Soccer League was criticised as the domestic schedules are said to be affecting Sundowns' preparation for the continental fixtures.

The Brazilians will now need to overturn the deficit with a two-goal victory to advance to the final of this year's continental showpiece.

Esperance are one-foot in the final

After opening the scoring in the first half, Esperance practically 'parked the bus' and defended well to ensure they did not concede a goal.

Recall that Sundowns failed to reach last season's final after losing to Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca following the away-goal rule.

It had ended goalless in Casablanca before a 2-2 draw in Pretoria cost Mokwena's side a spot in the final, and the tactician has admitted that the outcome continues to haunt him.

He said via Sunday World:

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“And I said to myself, right from the beginning, that if we are to lose a tie, it must not be because we conceded goals.

“That is one of the things I worked very hard on with the technical team and the coaches to try and improve on our side.

“You can just imagine being the best team on the continent, not losing a game [in the Champions League], and exiting like that.

“So, Sundowns cannot afford to be home in the Champions League and concede three goals; it’s not possible because of the away goals rule.”

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Esperance head-to-head

Both teams are familiar foes, and Friday's meeting will be their fourth clash against each other, with the Tunisian outfit winning two of their previous three fixtures, while one ended in a goalless draw.

• 20/04/2024 Esperance de Tunis 1-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
• 21/06/2017Esperance de Tunis 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns
• 02/06/2017Mamelodi Sundowns 1 -2 Esperance de Tunis

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How can Sundowns defeat Esperance?

Sundowns must eliminate Esperance from the Caf Champions League if they hope to secure automatic qualification for the Club World Cup as the third-placed team.

The South African side will need to regroup and summon their energy for a decisive performance against a formidable Esperance side in the reverse fixture.

Sundowns gun for their third CAF Champions League final, and there is only one way to get the job done on Friday - get the goals if they hope to edge past their Tunisian rivals.

They must score at least two goals at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and prevent the North Africans from scoring an away goal, which could damage their plans.

Unimpressed Sundowns supporters whistled at defender Brian Onyango, who appeared to panic, and Mokwena asked them to be patient with players. Mokwena said on SuperSport TV as per GOAL.

“And now if the Sundowns supporters start to panic on the players, what’s going to happen, these players must make mistakes.

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"And football is a game of mistakes, but it’s a game of mistakes to be corrected, not game of mistakes to panic, and, and it will never happen."

Strikers Peter Shalulile, Lucas Rebeiro Costa and Themba Zwane will have no excuses for firing blanks against the visitors as they are saddled with the responsibility of getting the goals.

It is unsure if Teboho Mokoena will be perfectly ready for the return leg.

Percy Tau linked with Sundowns' return

Sports Brief earlier reported that Percy Tau's future at Al Ahly is still unclear, with his deal expiring at the end of June 2025.

The South Africa international has enjoyed a successful three and a half years in Egypt, but it appears his time at the club is coming to an end.

Tau has been linked with a move to Al Ahly rivals Zamalek and his former club, Mamelodi Sundowns.