A CAF Champions League clash that was always going to be tense has been spiced up by the host team’s failed attempt at pre-match gamesmanship.
As if Mamelodi Sundowns’ clash with AS FAR Rabat was not intriguing enough, the Moroccans have gone and intensified the animosity for Saturday night’s match (9pm kick-off) by trying to play mind games which the Brazilians did not fall for.
Winners at Raja Casablanca on Matchday 1, AS FAR tried to move their clash against Sundowns from El Jadida to Meknes – no doubt in a ploy to unsettle the visitors.
But having already done their reconnaissance trip and booked their accommodation, the South African champions rushed to CAF and lodged a complaint.
The continental governing body agreed with the Brazilians, and have insisted that the match will be played at the Stade El Abdi in the city south of Casablanca instead of in the centre of the country, where FAR were trying to move it to.
That the match is not going to be played in Rabat is because FAR’s normal venue is being renovated for the Africa Cup of Nations that the country will host late next year into the beginning of 2026.
North African teams are renowned for playing mind games on their opposition, and this change for which they’d given no explanation was clearly FAR’s attempt at unsettling Sundowns.
And with this one having failed, the Brazilians should brace themselves for other tricks from their hosts.
But they are seasoned campaigners in continental competitions, and whatever FAR throws at them, Manqoba Mngqithi and his men would have previously experienced it.
Champions back in 2016 when they were still coached by Pitso Mosimane, the multiple South African champions have become perennial contenders for continental glory and are regulars in the knockout stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
Following that victory over Zamalek, Sundowns struggled for years to go beyond the quarter-finals, but they reached the semi-finals in the past two seasons.
Mngqithi now believes they have what it takes to go all the way.
Their opening match of the group phase seemed to refute this, though, as they failed to score against newbies and the team considered the group’s whipping boys, SC Maniema, in their opening match.
Mngqithi has said they will be much more dangerous on the road, especially against North African teams that play an open game in their own backyard.
Saturday’s match will be a true test of his theory – spiced up as it already has been by FAR’s failed gamesmanship.
Meanwhile, Sundowns will find out today which teams they will meet up in the FIFA Club World Cup set to take place next year when the draw for the 32-team tournament takes place in Miami.
The Brazilians are in Pot 4, along with Esperance of Tunisia.
The other African representatives, champions Al Ahly of Egypt and Rulani Mokwena’s Wydad Casablanca, are in Pot 3.
The interesting aspect about the draw is that no group can feature more than one team from the same confederation – except UEFA, who have 12 representatives – which means even though they are in different pots, the African teams will not face each other.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw Pots
Pot 1: Manchester City (ENG), Real Madrid (ESP), Bayern Munich (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Flamengo (BRA), Palmeiras (BRA), River Plate (ARG), Fluminense (BRA)
Pot 2: Chelsea (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Inter Milan (ITA), FC Porto (POR), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Juventus (ITA), Salzburg (AUT)
Pot 3: Al Hilal (KSA), Ulsan (KOR), Al Ahly (EGY), Wydad Casablanca (MAR), Monterrey (MEX), Club Leon (MEX), Boca Juniors (ARG), Botafogo (BRA)
Pot 4: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Al Ain (UAE), Esperance (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA), Pachuca (MEX), Seattle Sounders (USA), Auckland City (NZL), Inter Miami (USA)