AS FAR head coach Alexandre Santos is confident they can snatch the Caf Champions League title away from Mamelodi Sundowns by overturning a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of the final, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday.
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Kick-off is at 9pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).
Current form:
The Royal Army have a formidable home record in the competition and are unbeaten in Rabat this season, with their only other defeats coming on the road against Young Africans in the group stages and RS Berkane in the second leg of the quarterfinals.
The Moroccan club have only lost three of their 29 matches on home soil since they returned to the Champions League in 2005 and each one came against Tunisian opposition.
Santos' side have scored 11 goals in seven games at their home ground this term, while conceding just three and they've kept four clean sheets in the process.
Their only other meeting with the Brazilians was in the group stages during the 2024-25 campaign which saw the two teams play out to a 1-1 draw.
Bafana Ba Style take a slender advantage to the Moroccan capital after Aubrey Modiba's 37th-minute free-kick secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld on May 17.
Miguel Cardoso's side have struggled on their continental travels, winning just one of their six encounters - a 1-0 success against ES Tunis in the first leg of the semifinals.
Masandawana have managed to score eight away goals, but five of those came against Remo Stars in the second qualifying round (a 5-1 win), while they've shipped six in seven matches.
WHAT WAS SAID
AS FAR head coach Alexandre Santos:
"The most important thing is that we go to our home confident of getting the result and scoring the goals to win the title and fight until the end. We know we have our fans and our style of play, and anything is possible.
"All the players in the team realise that we have a real opportunity to face Sundowns and achieve what we want, which is to score, turn the result around and snatch the title. That is the most important thing.
"I say to our loyal fans, thank you for your continued support in all circumstances. You are our true source of strength, and we promise that we will fight with spirit and responsibility to make you happy and honour the Royal Army jersey."
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso:
"We know the difficulties that we are going to face in the second match. Of course, we want to close the season on a high note.
"We need to understand that the environment we'll go into is a privilege. There are not many people who get to enjoy playing in such a beautiful stadium. There'll be an electrifying ambience.
"We'll take our passionate supporters in our hearts, and they'll be the strength that we need in difficult situations."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
AS FAR - Reda Slim was the Royal Army's best attacking player in Pretoria, although he managed just one attempt at goal which was off target. The 26-year-old winger made four progressive carries, but his crossing was poor as none of his four deliveries reached a teammate.
Mamelodi Sundowns - Khuliso Mudau was one of Sundowns' standout players in the first leg, providing width down the right flank. The 31-year-old right-back had six carries into the opposition half and completed all seven of his passes in the final third, while he also made six recoveries and a crucial interception.