The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach is at a club where there are high demands for results and not winning the continental competition is regarded as failure. The Algerian giants are known for not being patient with coaches. However, it is an environment he is familiar with after experiencing it at Masandawana and Wydad Casablanca.
Nuno Santos and Peter Shalulile scored at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium to hand the Brazilians another win after beating their second preliminary round rivals on their own turf in the first leg. Since the big win at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Downs' tactician has revealed that their objectives shifted.
The South African's side was made to sweat by their second preliminary round continental rivals, who proved to be a very stubborn opponent. However, in the end, it is Mokwena's team that had the last laugh.
South African teams were in action this weekend in the second leg of the preliminary rounds of both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup. Pirates and Sundowns did action in the continentâs premier competition - the CAF Champions League - while Chiefs and Stellies were playing in the Confederation Cup.
The Premier League served up a Southern African showdown as Bafana Bafanaâs Foster and Zimbabweâs Munetsi both found the net in the match between Wolves and Burnley. Munetsi struck first for the home side, but it was Foster who sealed the deal with a late winner at Molineux Stadium on Sunday, 26 October.
Abafana Bes'thende have now joined Richards Bay in the semi-finals as the domestic competition heads towards its conclusion. The win is a boost for the ex-Masandawana tactician, who is hopeful of winning at least a title this season.
On Sunday, South African defending league champions Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place in the CAF Champions League group stages with a commanding 7â1 aggregate win over Nigeriaâs Remo Stars. The result underlines Masandawanaâs continental ambitions as they continue their pursuit of a second CAF Champions League star.
Amakhosi's dream of winning a continental trophy remains alive thanks to their dominant home game against AS Simba. The Glamour Boys' hope of a group stage ticket was realised within just 26 minutes, as they had already achieved an advantage that Simba could not cancel in the end.
Heading into the return leg, Masandawana all but sealed their spot in the group stages after a dominant 5-1 first-leg win over Stars. With their midweek league clash against Sekhukhune United postponed, the hosts enjoyed a full week of focused prep ahead of the second leg, ready to finish the job and maintain their continental momentum.
After failing to score in the first-leg encounter despite creating many open chances, Amakhosi were clinical at home, and before the half-hour mark, they had stretched the win quite beyond the reach of their rivals. Chiefs must now ensure they are ready for more gruelling challenges in the group stage.
A former Mzansi defender has analysed Broos' squad and identified what he feels is a problem with it. As the former Cameroon tactician is expected to leave after the World Cup finals, his successor has been urged not to follow Broos' script.
GOAL gives you the details to follow Madandawana's hosting of the Sky Blue in this CAF Champions League second preliminary round, second leg at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday. Having recorded a big win away in Nigeria last week, Masandawana are likely to have an easy afternoon but at the same time wary of a big upset.
The former Simba SC tactician has had a rather good start to his reign with the Moroccan outfit. Davids left the Tanzanian heavyweights for a return to North Africa, where he hopes to enjoy some success.
The Tshwane giants head into the game confident, given the kind of results they registered away from home. The technical bench must be mulling over whether to deploy their usual first teamers or deploy other players who have not been regularly used in order to prove themselves.
The Sea Robbers were already under pressure after losing the first leg of the second preliminary round, leaving their continental hopes hanging in a thread. However, they can take heart from how they fought at home but fell short of what they needed to progress.
The Buccaneers were hard done by on Saturday afternoon as they were eliminated by St Eloi Lupopo from the CAF Champions League. They fought from a 3-0 loss in the first leg of the final preliminary round to a 3-3 aggregate draw before eventually bowing out 5-4 in the penalty shootout.
With a star-studded squad and a massive budget, the Tshwane giants find themselves under the spotlight again, with expectations high on them to dominate both at home and on the African continent. A senior player explains what they have been prioritising.
The Amakhosi tactician has been forced to explain the situation around the club's new signing. The player looks set to feature for the DDC side, raising questions on whether he remains a first-team star or has been demoted.
Mzansi faced their COSAFA rivals at a critical juncture of their qualification journey, and they were deeply frustrated. But in the end, despite what looked like insurmountable challenges, SA finally qualified for next year's finals.
Despite playing away from home, Downs managed a huge victory that took them closer to the CAF Champions League group stage. However, the win has been described in sceptical terms, as the Nigerian club has been categorised as a weaker opponent for Masandawana.
The Belgian tactician is concerned that the Sea Robbers' winger has not been at his best since the reported move abroad did not materialise. The 73-year-old is concerned with the well-being of the player who is regarded as the future of South African football, alongside other cropping youngsters.
The Brazilians have been criticised when they putting below-par standards owing to the quality within their squad, which is made up of experienced members. The former Esperance coach insists it is not the right way to gauge the team since their rivals seem to get a soft landing.
Since winning the 2011/12 Premier Soccer League title, the Buccaneers have found it hard to lift this trophy. But their rivals Masandawana have clinched it for the last eight seasons in a row. That leaves the Soweto giants with a challenge to break the dominance of the Tshwane giants.
After two weeks away from the pitch, Rayners is finally back in training. The 29-year-old suffered a medical scare that could have derailed his career; however, according to Miguel Cardoso, the issue was detected and addressed in time, allowing him to make a safe return.
The Soweto Giants came into the Wednesday game as favourites owing to their recent results domestically and abroad. They needed maximum points to sustain their hopes of ascending to the summit of the table and stand a chance to challenge for the South African top-flight crown by the end of the ongoing campaign.
After failing to score in a CAF Confederation Cup against AS Simba, Amakhosi again have proved that they have quite a blunt striking force. Against Siwelele, they were not only ineffective up front but also looked vulnerable at the back.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC
