Mamelodi Sundowns have announced their starting line-up to face Burundi Premier League champions Bamamuru in their first-leg CAF Champions League second-round clash at the Azam Complex Stadium this afternoon.
Sundowns come into the game with seven wins and a draw from their opening eight games in the 2023/24 season and overwhelming favourites against the tournament debutants.
They host the South African champions in Tanzania, as their current stadium is not up to the required standards set by the Confederation Of African Football.
“It’s important that we are full strength, we have some important players coming back and their re-integration is very important, that’s goal number one, goal number two is to score away from home and give ourselves a good result to go back to Pretoria for the second leg,” Mokwena explained ahead of the game.
“It’s important that Mamelodi Sundowns qualify for the group stages. Goal number three is to try and make sure we see out the 90 minutes without any substantial injuries, that is our focus – to make sure we play well.
“We [need] to give ourselves good possibilities to win the football match because, without [a] good performance, we don’t have a chance against a physical and intense team with good counter-attacking [threats] and threatening on set-pieces.
“We have to be prepared but the technical team along with the analysts have done a very very good job in helping the players be prepared.”
Sundowns XI: Williams, Kekana, Lebusa, Mashego, Coetzee, Mokoena, Aubaas, Mendieta, Zwane, Nku, Ribeiro.
Subs: Pieterse, Onyango, Mudau, Modiba, Zungu, Mkhulise, Mbule, Maboe, Shalulile.
