Mamelodi Sundowns FC news

Masandawana could register a double against their continental rivals as they are set to clash on Sunday for their fifth game in the group. The first encounter between the two ended in a 3-1 win over the Premier Soccer League giants, who recently dropped points against Al Hilal. Given that the four teams in Group C all have fairly high chances of reaching the knockout stage, it makes the match even more crucial for both sides.

Masandawana will face the DR Congo outfit in a match that has high stakes as far as their fate in the continental competition is concerned. Already, Downs have fallen down on the standings after Rhulani Mokwena's MC Alger beat Al Hilal, which means their situation is more complicated even before they kick the ball for their fifth group stage game.

Unrelenting Masandawana grinded yet another positive outcome as they try as hard as possible to close in on their title rivals. As Downs registered another victory, it was another good day for a South African star who is in good scoring form. With Pirates and Sundowns engaged in a tight battle for the title, the defending champions, Kaizer Chiefs, languish in the fifth position.

Teams in the Premier Soccer League are chasing the CAF Confederation Cup ticket for the 2026/27 edition by virtue of winning the annual competition. It is promising to be a competitive assignment as top dogs are also hoping to win the cash prize as well as the glory associated with the competition. In the last three editions, the tournament has been won by the Soweto giants.

The South Africa international has been plying trade abroad since his exit from Mzansi in the 2022/23 campaign after shining for Masandawana in his debut season. The 24-year-old is currently in South Africa to mourn the passing of his keen a couple of days ago. This is after losing their mother a few months ago.

Pressure continues to mount on the Portuguese coach, whose future at Chloorkop appears increasingly uncertain. The Brazilians face the grim prospect of finishing the season empty-handed, yet they still have a chance to secure a treble if their performances improve. Even when they win, a section of the club’s supporters remains unconvinced by the manner in which the victories are posted.

So far in the season, the Sea Robbers are the most successful side after winning two domestic trophies. Now their focus is on two more as they compete in the Premier Soccer League and the Nedbank Cup. There is a huge possibility that the Soweto giants might lift four titles at the end of the season, something that will make their season more memorable.

When Amakhosi lifted the cup last season, it helped them end a decade-long wait for a trophy. However, their journey this season came to an end after they were beaten by Stellenbosch in a Round 32 game. Now, their win over Bucs to lift the Nedbank Cup has been questioned, with the team's management blamed for the loss.

Masandawana will visit the DR Congo outfit for a crucial match that could determine their fate in the continental competition. The Downs' tactician is aware of how the Sea Robbers fell at the TP Mazembe Stadium and is keen for his charges to avoid the same pitfall. Lupopo are expected to give Sundowns a tough challenge, as they are also in the hunt for points to boost the odds of reaching the next phase of the competition.

The Brazilians narrowly beat Gomora United to keep their Nedbank Cup hopes alive, providing a timely boost for Cardoso after days of mounting pressure and supporter criticism. While the victory was the highlight of the night, the 53-year-old also revealed that a suspicious photo had landed in his hands, reiterating the need for VAR in the domestic league as a way to safeguard the integrity of the game.

Although Miguel Cardoso fielded what can be described as a second-tier lineup, their overall performance was not convincing. This performance will only put the head coach under more pressure given that the Pretoria heavyweights dropped crucial points in the CAF Champions League.

Going by how teams are fighting, it can easily be predicted that Masandawana's dominance in the top flight could come to an end this time around. Bucs pushed the Tshwane giants in the last three seasons but failed to dethrone them. Now, apart from the 'Big Three', even fourth-placed AmaZulu and Sekhukhune United in fifth place are mathematically firmly in the title race.

Bafana Bafana's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals was dominated by players from the Soweto giants. Even though South Africa were eliminated in the Round of 16, lessons learnt in the continental competition have been linked to the current form shown by the Sea Robbers.