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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Sundowns prepare for Esperance </li><li>They will play the CafCL semi-final first-leg in Tunisia </li><li>Ex-captain Kekana believes the team are up for the challenge </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Ex-Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana confident recent matches have primed the Brazilians for Esperance - ‘I know they are up for a challenge’

Ligue I

Stade Tunisien

Esperance

Premier Soccer League

Royal AM

Mamelodi Sundowns FC

Heading into the continental fixture, Sundowns' recent matches leading up to the semi-final might not appear high-profile enough to adequately prepare them for a showdown against the highly skilled North African giants. Coach Rhulani Mokwena's squad's last six games included navigating past Tanzania's challenging <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/mamelodi-sundowns-sneak-into-caf-champions-league-semi-finals-after-penalty-shootout-breaks-stubborn-young-africans/blta343d0e4441dfd98" target="_blank">Young Africans in the Champions League quarter-finals</a>, requiring penalties.Masandawana then narrowly defeated bottom-tier Premier Soccer League teams <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/junior-mendieta-s-last-gasp-goal-fires-mamelodi-sundowns-to-victory-over-stubborn-richards-bay/blt344a03a7e8027401" target="_blank">Richards Bay</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/lists/referee-s-blunders-cost-cape-town-spurs-as-mamelodi-sundowns-move-closer-to-psl-title/bltaa5c2b7e042b38c0" target="_blank">Cape Town Spurs</a> 1-0 each and drew 2-2 against <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/former-orlando-pirates-star-frank-mhango-denies-mamelodi-sundowns-a-win-as-moroka-swallows-collect-important-point/blt49578fa91ce608ea" target="_blank">struggling Moroka Swallows</a>. Before that, they also advanced past National First Division side University of Pretoria in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, again via penalties. Despite these less-than-convincing results, Sundowns' legend and former captain Hlompho Kekana believes these demanding matches have adequately prepared the team for what lies ahead.

WHAT HAPPENED?

“This is the stage where you don’t choose your opponents. You have your opponents and you have to do the business,” he said on Sundowns’ Pitchside Podcast.“I’m sure the boys don’t want to experience the same [as last season’s semi-final exit to hoodoo team Wydad Casablanca via a heartbreaking, last gasp own goal by Mothobi Mvala at Loftus] with this opponent.“Esperance de Tunis are experienced at this level. They have won this tournament before. Clearly these are the top four teams on the continent now. So it’s not going to be an easy match when you get to that level,” Kekana continued. “As for the [Sundowns] players, I know they are up for a challenge, I am sure they are ready for it because the past five matches they played have prepared them for this sort of game.“The more you don’t get it easier, it is going to give you that challenge for when you find a team that is tactical.“If you remember our clashes against Wydad, we never used to enjoy meeting them but then you would find if you played Chippa United or Baroka before going to play Wydad you would solve problems on the field [in the build-up games],” he concluded.

WHAT KEKANA SAID?

As the Brazilians gear up to represent South Africa in Africa, they confront a challenging timetable as they aim to secure the league title before the season concludes in May.They currently sit atop the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/psl/table/yv73ms6v1995b5wny16jcfi3" target="_blank">log standings</a> with a 13-point lead over second-placed Stellenbosch.Simultaneously, they remain in the running for the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/nedbank-cup-semi-final-confirmed-orlando-pirates-and-mamelodi-sundowns-avoid-each-other/blt8bcf2cd23783d552" target="_blank">Nedbank Cup</a>, currently in the semi-final stage and set to face Stellenbosch for a chance to advance to the final.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

All attention will be focused on Sundowns as they face Esperance in Tunisia on Saturday, April 20th, at 21h00 SA time, aiming to secure a victory.Meanwhile, the second leg of the Caf Champions League semi-final is scheduled for Friday, April 26th at Loftus Versfeld.

WHAT NEXT FOR SUNDOWNS?

Ex-Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana confident recent matches have primed the Brazilians for Esperance - ‘I know they are up for a challenge’ | Goal.com

Masandawana face a monumental task in the Caf Champions League semi-final first-leg against their Tunisian opponents.

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