Sundowns, AS FAR in battle for Group B supremacy

Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to end their CAF Champions League Group B campaign with a win over AS FAR Rabat at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off is at 6:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Masandawana got their Group B campaign back on track when they secured a 2-1 win over AS Maniema Union away on January 11. Prior to that, Raja Casablanca had ended their seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions.

Sundowns are placed second in the group standings having collected eight points from five matches. They are a point behind leaders, AS FAR and three points clear of third-placed Raja with the South African champions needing just a point to book their spot in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, AS FAR maintained their unbeaten record in Group B when they drew 1-1 with Raja at home on 11 January and they are undefeated in their last 11 matches across all competitions having registered five draws and six wins.

The Militarians are sitting at the top of the group standings having accumulated nine points from five matches. They have already booked their spot in the quarterfinals and a win over Sundowns would see the Moroccan side finish at the top of the group standings.

TEAM NEWS

Sundowns will welcome back Khuliso Mudau and Bathusi Aubaas from suspension, but Themba Zwane, ⁠Siyabonga Mabena, ⁠Rivaldo Coetzee, ⁠Mothobi Mvala and Aubrey Modiba are on the club's injury list.

AS FAR, on the other hand, are expected to be without their head coach Hubert Velud who recently underwent successful surgery to repair his Achilles Heels while midfielder Narbi Naji is suspended and defender Hatim Essaouab is out injured.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Iqraam Rayners

“I think they (AS FAR) will just sit back obviously because they want to finish top at the group,” Rayners said.

“For us to finish top, we need to push ourselves; we need to win the game and score goals. That’s the spirit.

“They will come with a lot of confidence; they will fight and make it difficult for us. But we just have to be patient; being ourselves is what is going to help us win the game.”

AS FAR Rabat on Hatim Essaouabi

"Player Hatim Essaouabi will miss the next match due to injury, which he suffered during the Raja Athletic match in the CAF Champions League," a club statement read.

"Essaouabi underwent the necessary medical examinations by MRI to determine the nature of the injury and the duration of absence.

"Tests revealed that Essaouabi was exposed to a stretch in the back muscle of the left thigh that would be gone for three weeks."

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This will be the second competitive meeting between Sundowns and AS FAR.

Their first-ever meeting ended in a 1-1 draw in a Champions League Group B clash on 7 December in El Jadida, Morocco.