Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena admits Algerian champions Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad pose a massive threat in the CAF Champions League quarter-final.
Belouizdad currently lead the Algerian Ligue 1 unbeaten, by seven points with three games in hand, and are on course for a fourth consecutive league title.
In their 18 games played, they have scored 31 goals, while conceding nine but meet with Sundowns due to finishing second in their Group D by finishing on 10 points, one behind Tunisian giants Esperance.
“One eye is on that [CR Belouizdad] but we’ve gone so long without winning, so we have to win against Golden Arrows, that is the immediate focus,” Mokwena said.
“But Belouizdad is a very good team, they are going to be complicated, with very complex traveling to Algeria, but a good side with a way of play that is not too far from Sundowns, not too far. Looks like a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, diamond sort of structure.
“[Mohamed Islam] Belkhir is very important for them, top goal scorer, they have done extremely well [in their league] unbeaten and on top, so very competitive team, very strong even on set-pieces.
“Two very good strikers, a Nigerian [Anayo Iwuala] who is young fast, and very aggressive, and look it’s going to be a tough game, we know.”
The two sides meet for the first leg quarter-final at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Saturday 22, April at 21h00.