‘Whenever we go to Cairo, it is always all guns blazing from minute one,’ Lebusa told Sundowns TV.
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mosa Lebusa says his side are ready for a Cairo showdown as Masandawana take on Al Ahly in the semifinals of the Caf Champions League this evening (kick off 6pm).
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After the first leg of the semifinal in Tshwane ended in a goalless draw, Sundowns know they have it all to do at the Cairo International Stadium to progress.
Sundowns to face hostile atmosphere
Ahly are 12-time Champions League winners and victors in six of the last eight editions. They are also expected to have a rare capacity crowd of around 75 000 to cheer them on.
The Egyptian government does not usually allow stadiums to be filled to capacity in Cairo. But Ahly are reported to have requested and received a special exemption for this match.
“Whenever we go to Cairo, it is always all guns blazing from minute one,” Lebusa told Sundowns TV.
“We have to make sure we minimise their attacks, that our rest defence is better and that we are in the right areas to close them down.”
Sundowns were boosted at Loftus by the return from injury of club captain Themba Zwane. Zwane came on for the last 20 minutes, his first appearance since rupturing his Achilles tendon with Bafana Bafana in October.
“It is good to have the captain back. It gives the team an extra boost,” added Lebusa.
“Every player does but ‘Mshishi’ is one of a kind. We are happy he is back, you heard how the stadium (Loftus) was when he came on.
“But this is also a team sport, we all have common goals and want to achieve them.”
Head coach Miguel Cardoso, meanwhile, has described Sundowns and Ahly as the two best teams on the continent.
‘The two best teams in Africa’
“I still believe we can beat Al Ahly because we didn’t lose to them in this match,” he told journalists after the draw at Loftus.
“There is still a lot to be played for.
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”We are going there expecting a different match. Whoever goes through, the other team will not be happy. But whoever goes through will be strong because these are the two best teams in Africa.”
One bonus for Sundowns is the clean sheet they kept at Loftus. With away goals counting double in the Champions League, if Cardoso’s side can manage a score draw after 90 minutes in Cairo, they will progress to the final.
