Mamelodi Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund praised his CAF Champions League opponents Ahli, but insisted his side are capable of knocking out the five-time African champions. "They are formidable opponents. I haven't spotted any weak link in their make-up," Igesund told the club's official website on Tuesday. "They are well drilled, well balanced team and the reasons why they have dominated continental football for so many years is quite simple. "I do not want to sound off but I have no doubt in my mind that looking at my players, they are capable of beating Ahli and end their dominance of African football. I am truly confident that they are capable of achieving this objective."
Ahli, who defeated Zimbabwe's Highlanders 2-0 on aggregate to advance to the Champions League round of 16, will face Sundowns away from home on April seventh before hosting them in the second-leg on the 20th of the same month. "I only wish that the first leg should have been back in Cairo in their backyard. Then we would have tried to hold them to a draw and finish the job here at home." "But the draw has been done and we have to live with it. We must ensure that they do not come here to snatch a draw." Both sides met before in the 2001 Champions League final where Ahli had the upper hand, snatching a 1-1 away draw before crushing the South Africans 3-0 in the second-leg to lift the trophy. Ahli are looking to win the competition for the third successive time and surpass their five-title joint record with arch-rivals Zamalek.
