Of the last four teams standing in the CAF Champions League tournament, only TP Mazembe remained consistent on the domestic front following their quarterfinal triumph in Africa's premier club competition. The other three semi-finalists have wobbled a little bit on the home front with Esperance settling for a 1-1 draw against Monastir on Monday, while their opponents, Mamelodi Sundowns, let slip a commanding 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Moroka Swallows. On the same day, Al Ahly lost 2-1 to traditional rivals Zamalek in the Cairo Derby. TP Mazembe, who tackle Al Ahly in Lubumbashi this weekend, beat Jeunesse Sportive de Kinshasa 3-0 in midweek and followed it up with a crucial 2-1 victory over rivals Vita Club on Sunday. Soccer Laduma's Thomas Kwenaite speaks to former SAFA Coaching instructor, Sudesh Singh, former TP Mazembe striker, Given Singuluma and African Football journalist, Collins Okinyo, to break down the weekend's semi-final clashes.
Esperance v Mamelodi Sundowns
20 April, Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, 21h00
He Is A Better Strategist
Thomas Kwenaite: How do you think Esperance will approach this epic match against Mamelodi Sundowns?
Sudesh Singh: Esperance would want to get a positive result in the first leg at home in Tunis, knowing that it will be an extremely difficult task away in Pretoria where they usually struggle in dealing with the altitude. Previously these teams have met twice before with Esperance winning one match and the other ending in a draw. But this time Sundowns should be better prepared and will know what to expect.
TK: What impresses you about the home side?
SS: They are one of the giants of African football with a rich history, backed by a fanatical support base. They also have an astute tactician in Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, with a solid squad of high-quality players. They are on a 20-game unbeaten streak, are topping the charts in the Tunisian League, same as their opponents Sundowns. In a way they seem evenly matched.
TK: Do you think Esperance has the pedigree to trouble the visitors?
SS: Esperance is one of the biggest clubs in African football with the required pedigree having won the Champions League on four occasions, in total they have won eight CAF competitions. This 105-year-old club has amassed a record 53 domestic titles in Tunisian football. So, they are a truly massive old club with a huge pedigree. If there was any other club that could stretch Sundowns, it has to be Esperance.
TK: What do you think will be the key moments of this clash?
SS: Playing in front of a huge fanatical home crowd, the Taraji, as Esperance is known, will want to impose themselves on Sundowns from the get-go, putting them under pressure from the first whistle in search of an early goal to settle their nerves. I'm sure Sundowns have done extensive homework and identified their key players. But ASEC Mimosa put on a solid defensive display in Tunis to settle for a 0-0 draw. If Sundowns get their defensive organisation on point and don't concede, then it makes the second leg in Pretoria a bit less challenging for them.
TK: Which players do you think Sundowns will have to be wary of?
SS: Goalkeeper Amenallah Memmiche. Yassine Meriah is a solid, modern defender who usually starts play from the back. Midfielder and Ivorian-born Jean-Eudes Aholou covers every blade of grass and is your typical box-to-box player. Then you have the forwards – Brazilian Rodrigo Rodrigues and Mohammed Ali Ben Hammouda – they are among the key players and the spine of the team.
TK: What system do you think Esperance will employ?
SS: Esperance will want to go into this game with a very offensive-minded line-up hoping to win, by at least two goals, without conceding. So, it could be a 4-3-3 line-up with offensive- minded, overlapping fullbacks loading their midfield while initiating and joining in attacking moves.
TK: North African teams have struggled to deal with Sundowns…
SS: It is true that North Africans tend to struggle against Sundowns' playing style and strength, which is based on creativity in attack, individual brilliance, quick short-pass combination play and this could be a challenge for Esperance defence, especially in central defence where Meriah, although a solid defender, is nonetheless also a bit on the slow side. He could be vulnerable if Sundowns confront him with skill and quick short passing combinations.
TK: Having struggled to break down ASEC in the previous round, can they afford to sit back and hope for another penalty shootout?
SS: It will both be futile and suicidal if Esperance sit back and try to defend in both games hoping to win on penalties, a very difficult task indeed. I am sure they are aware of Ronwen Williams and what he achieved at the recent African Nations Cup. I don't think they would risk facing such a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout. Is fatigue creeping in at 'Downs?
TK: How do you think Sundowns will approach this game?
Collins Okinyo: Esperance will be tough considering the fast pace of their game, which I'm sure will be the order of the day in Tunis. Sundowns will have to approach the game in a different way because playing against Yanga in the last eight, they were in a tricky situation that could have gone any other way because penalties decided the winner. Sundowns have unquestioned pedigree but they will have to approach it with an attacking mindset because Esperance are equally tough. If you compare them with Yanga, Sundowns will have to start the first leg in Tunis on a very positive note. You can see these days it's tough because home or away no longer make a difference like in the past and African football this season is kind of very competitive.
TK: They drew 2-2 against Moroka Swallow. Do you think they were thinking more about Esperance than the domestic assignment?
CO: It was a good result, and I watched the match. But I also detected signs of fatigue creeping into the Sundowns team because they have played so many matches back-to-back. The coach, Rhulani Mokwena, will have to come up with a tactical plan so that he rotates the team with some of the fringe players because Esperance is very good at utilising home ground to their advantage. Sundowns will have to push to the limit and Rhulani will have to execute effective changes and not worry too much about the draw against Swallows.
TK: Sundowns have not struggled against North Africans, mind you.
CO: Indeed, Sundowns hardly struggle when they get up North but you see, looking at current form, from the quarterfinal stage and even the draw against Swallows and going to extra time against Tuks in the Nedbank Cup has probably taken a lot out of them. And such results give opponents the impression that they are not as dominant as they have been all along. Of course, travelling can also be cumbersome but when they get to Tunis they will have to change strategy because it will not be a walk in the park. Esperance are former champions and have been in this tournament on countless occasions.
TK: Which Sundowns players do you think will cause the most danger?
CO: I'm sure even Esperance have taken note of Ronwen Williams who is a top-class goalkeeper. Everybody saw during the Afcon in Cote d'Ivoire what he is capable of producing and he will once again be their key player. I think Namibian Peter Shalulile might be going through a lean spell and finding goals hard to come by, but his work rate is next to none, and he is a player to look up to when the going gets tough. Themba Zwane is another player whom some refer to as the heart and soul of Sundowns. But I think at this stage of the season, the coach also needs physically strong players like Brian Mandela when the team is exhausted. He could play an important role.
TK: Sundowns fell to Wydad Casablanca at this stage last year. How do they avoid a case of lightning striking twice?
CO: I remember how they painfully lost to Wydad. I think it is the same situation of fatigue setting in, something that we are beginning to see with them right now. Rhulani must freshen the team now and look at different strategies and a different formation to counter Esperance, even though sometimes it's difficult to discard your DNA way of playing. But North Africans are fast and use speed to greater effect.
TK: Have the contingent of South Americans added a different dimension to Sundowns?
CO: Definitely, they come with flair and from top football-playing countries. They give meaning to how football should be played and their flair complements the South African way of playing. They are using Sundowns as a stepping stone to Europe and hence producing the kind of performances that will put them on the shopping window. Their contribution has been invaluable to Sundowns.
TK: Of the two coaches, who might have an edge over the other?
CO: To be honest, Rhulani is one of the top coaches in Africa at the moment, and he is still only 37 years old, yet he has achieved quite a lot. For me, he is a better strategist than Miguel Cardoso. He knows how to read the game, and he used to assist Pitso Mosimane. Now as head coach he is applying the same tactics he learned if not better. He is well respected across Africa, and I have no doubt that he is capable of achieving more out of this game and might even win the tournament.
TP Mazembe v Al Ahly
20 April, Stade TP Mazembe, 15h00
Stade Mazembe Is Intimidating!
TK: How do you fancy TP Mazembe's chances against Al Ahly?
Given Singuluma: I think Mazembe has got more chances of winning because it has been a long time since they reached this stage of the CAF Champions League. They are hungry and almost desperate to reach the summit of African football again. The good thing is that the first leg is played in Lubumbashi and so, they will put down their marker with a good result, although it will not be an easy game.
TK: What do you think will be the key moments or the key decider of the match between the two?
GS: The key moments will be with the team that will be more composed and clinical in front of the goal; the team that will not let the occasion get to their heads; the team that will stick to the basic plan of the coach and minimise errors. As a former Mazembe player, I would love to see them qualifying for the final.
TK: Mazembe's stadium is considered a fortress. Do you think home ground advantage will work for them?
GS: Yes, Stade de Mazembe is not just a fortress but the atmosphere can be pretty intimidating for fainthearted visitors. I'm told tickets were sold-out the next day after they qualified for the semi-finals. It is compact and the spectators are so close you can almost feel them breathing in your face. I'm sure home ground advantage will play a key role for Mazembe, especially because the fans are always behind them. Everyone associated with the club knows how important the game is on Saturday.
TK: Who do you think will be key players for Mazembe?
GS: The key players will be Malian striker Fily Traore, he can be a handful for defenders. Their attacking midfielder Glody Likonza is very tricky as well and a very creative fellow. The central defender and captain Kevin Mundeko is rock-solid and is blessed with incredible leadership qualities, while striker and winger Philippe Kinzumbi is fearless and does not hesitate to poke his head where boots and elbows are flying. Those are the players that I believe will be key for Mazembe.
TK: How important will be the role of coach Lamine Ndiaye in this clash?
GS: I played under him from 2010 to 2014 and believe me he is very passionate and dedicated to his work. He is very serious about his work and that's why he is always successful with the team. The coach is like a father figure to the players and has a lot of experience in the Champions League. When we beat Al Ahly during 2012 and they still had players like Mohammed Aboutrika, he was our coach, and he knows them like the back of his hand.
TK: If you have watched Al Ahly in action recently, who would you say Mazembe need to be careful of and the players to watch closely?
GS: Without a doubt, it's got to be Percy Tau. The nippy South African has been instrumental for them most of the time, largely because he looks so petite and defenders tend to ignore him, yet he is explosive and very deadly when he takes off. He is brave and does not hesitate to take defenders on. If anything, TP Mazembe will have to be very careful of this man without necessarily concentrating on him alone. They have to keep it tight in the midfield and at the back because Al Ahly also has good strikers and can score any time. Ahly are like an open book…
TK: How ready and prepared is Al Ahly for the semi-final against Mazembe?
Dr Hossam Hasan: To be honest with you, this is the lowest form Ahly has ever been in since 2022. They have to deal with multiple important players' injuries, have dished out average performances, dropped points in the domestic league and the derby loss to Zamalek on Monday and so, it's not a good period for the team ahead of such an important match.
TK: Do you think playing away first will be advantageous for them?
HH: On paper maybe yes, but we believe Ahly's experience in the CAF Champions League makes them not to rely on this advantage. They will play both at home and away in the same aggressive and attacking manner no matter where the venue of the match is.
TK: Do you think Ali Maaloul, Tau and Mohamed Hany returned just in time for this match from their injuries?
HH: Mohamed Hany wasn't injured. Yes, the goalkeeper (Mohamed) El Shenawy, defender Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia and Aloui Dieng as well as (Hussein) El Shahat and Tau are the ones affected by injuries. But they are unlikely to be available except perhaps for Tau. All these players were in the starting line-up when Ahly won the Champions League last year, so it will be tough.
TK: Mazembe actually believe they know how to beat Ahly. What do you think?
HH: Ahly are like an open book to all teams in Africa, but their experience in the Champions League is second to none, especially in the knockout stages. So, Mazembe are entitled to think they have won before the game has even started, but it will not be that easy. This is Al Ahly we are talking about.
TK: How important is coach Marcel Koller in Ahly's pursuit for a back-to-back championship?
HH: Koller has been great for Ahly since his arrival. But this year he has not been as efficient in his technical and tactical applications like he had been last year. This season has been bedevilled by strange tactical decisions as well as strange and unexplained team selections, and the most glaring was during the Zamalek loss on Monday. So, we shall wait and see how he lines up against Mazembe, but in truth, his decision-making this year has not been on point.
TK: Do you think the match against Zamalek will have acted as good preparation for this weekend's clash?
HH: Unfortunately, the defeat will psychologically and mentally affect the team ahead of such a huge match. I hope that they can move on from the loss and concentrate fully on the game against Mazembe, which is much more important than a three-points league game.
TK: Which Ahly player do you think can make the difference in this match?
HH: After all has been said and done, we still believe that Wessam Abou Ali will rise above the gloom that has descended to the dressing room following the loss to Zamalek and make a difference. He is a creative spark of the team and the only player capable of pulling a rabbit out of a hat and I trust he will live up to expectation.
