Miguel Cardoso’s Mamelodi Sundowns are two games away from the CAF Champions League semifinals. First is this home leg tonight against Stade Malien before the return trip to Mali next week.
The club known as Kabo Yellow marched into the final eight after finishing second in Group C behind Sudanese giants Al-Hilal.
CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: MAMELODI SUNDOWNS STARTING LINE UP VS STADE MALIEN
Sundowns starting line up: Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Grant Kekana, Khulumani Ndamane, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Arthur Sales, Nuno Santos, Tashreeq Matthews, Brayan Leon.
Substitutes: Denis Onyango, Kegan Johannes, Fawaaz Basadien, Lebogang Mothiba, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Themba Zwane, Marcelo Allende, Monnapule Saleng, Iqraam Rayners.
Visitors Stade Malien, known as les Blancs, defied the odds to finish at the top of Group D. They bagged 11 points and finishing ahead of established continental powerhouses like Espérance de Tunis.
Their success was built on a rock-solid defence. They conceded only two goals throughout the entire group stage, combined with a clinical home record in Bamako where they remained undefeated.
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AIMING FOR AFRICAN GLORY
Since Sundowns’ triumph over Zamalek in 2016, Kabo Yellow have been relentless in chasing another CAF Champions League title, coming agonisingly close on several occasions.
They reached the final in 2024/25 but were edged out by Egypt’s Pyramids FC, marking their closest attempt since lifting the trophy.
Also read: Pirates move to 47 points, lead Sundowns on goal difference
In the years prior, Sundowns consistently made deep runs: semifinals exits to Esperance in 2023/24 and Wydad Casablanca in 2022/23, quarterfinal defeats to Petro de Luanda in 2021/22 and back-to-back losses to Al Ahly in 2020/21 and 2019/20, another semifinal loss to Wydad in 2018/19, a group stage exit in 2017/18, and a quarterfinal defeat to Wydad in 2016/17.
