Sundowns set for hectic end to the year

Mamelodi Sundowns may be basking in the glory of winning the African Football League on Sunday, but there will be little time to dwell on that success with a hectic period of games coming up to the end of the year.

The Brazilians will play 10 games in 37 days from November 24, which will include trips to DR Congo to face TP Mazembe and Egypt to meet Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League.

It is a horror fixture list that has been built up due to their participation in the AFL, but also the six-week break in the domestic league for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.

If there is any team in the league who can handle the run of games, it is Sundowns with their multi-talented squad, but they have also battled with injuries this season and such a frenetic run will certainly put more pressure on their extended run.

They are saved further difficulties having exited the Carling Knockout early on, which would have resulted in clashes with the Champions League had they progressed.

They will have a little time now to regroup with the Fifa international window, though for several of their players this is no real rest as they link up with their national teams for the start of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, which is not just about the 180 minutes they will potentially play over two games, but also the exhausting travel.

Sundowns have already played 21 matches this campaign in all competitions (but only eight in the DStv Premiership), which they have done over 101 days (a game every 4.8 days). That is punishing enough, but the pace will pick up to a game every 3.7 days once they are back in action later this month.

SUNDOWNS’ REMANING FIXTURES IN 2023

November 24 v Nouadhibou (home, Champions League)

November 29 v SuperSport United (away, DStv Premiership)

December 2 v TP Mazembe (away, Champions League)

December 6 v AmaZulu (away, DStv Premiership)

December 9 v Pyramids (home, Champions League)

December 12 v Cape Town Spurs (home, DStv Premiership)

December 19 v Pyramids (away, Champions League)

December 24 v Cape Town City (away, DStv Premiership)

December 27 v Moroka Swallows (home, DStv Premiership)

December 30 v Polokwane City (home, DStv Premiership)