Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac on his findings from studying Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup - 'They are more to the side of the Brazilian team'

Mamelodi Sundowns will be one of the four African teams at the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.

The Tshwane giants are in Group F where they will face Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, Brazilian side Fluminense and South Korean outfit Ulsan HD.

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has been doing research on Masandawana and shares what he thinks about the Premier Soccer League champions.

“This is something new, a special moment for each of us, because we usually play European teams now you play three [teams] from three different continents, it’s something new and something nice to be honest,” Kovac said as per iDiski Times.

“Nobody knows everything of each other as opponents but I think we have three different types of play, the Brazilian team is ball possession, a bit controlled football to keep the ball, then the Korean team is aggressive, fast and quick and Sundowns is more to the side of the Brazilian team [style].

“I also know in the last two games they played in the final against the Egyptian team [Pyramids], and the head coach is a Croatian, so right away I know about that results of that match – so as we see it, there’s different types but for a top team as we are, we must handle this," added the former Croatia international.

“It’s the work of our analyst team and the work of our staff. We need to prepare the team as good as possible and I’m convinced that all of the four teams will prepare everything on the highest level.”

This will be Masandawana's second participation at the Club World Cup following their debut appearance at the tournament in 2016.

They lost their two matches at the 2016 edition and would be in search of their first-ever victory at this competition.

After recently losing the Caf Champions League final to Pyramids FC, Sundowns would be hoping that will not have a negative psychological impact on them.

Masandawana coach Miguel Cardoso arrives at the Club World Cup under pressure from losing the Champions League final.

The Portuguese was largely criticised for not using Themba Zwane and it is to be seen if he will succumb to pressure to plan around his skipper.