Sundowns midfielder Modiba emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on home advantage against Pyramids.

Image: Mamelodi Sundowns website

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Aubrey Modiba anticipates a challenging showdown when his team faces Egyptian side Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League final at Loftus on Saturday at 9:30 PM. The Brazilians will host the first leg, aiming for a strong result to carry into next weekend’s decisive clash in Cairo, where a new champion will be crowned.

“We expect a tough game against Pyramids FC because they are a solid team and have performed well both at home and away,” Modiba stated.

“We need to apply ourselves properly on the day and push for a win in front of our home supporters. They’ve added a few quality players since we last faced them in 2023.”

Modiba acknowledged Pyramids' growth in the tournament, noting, “They’ve gained valuable experience, which explains why they’ve reached the final. They are also performing well domestically, competing fiercely with Al Ahly for the league title. This is a different team with a new coach and approach compared to the last time we played them.”

Although Modiba was not part of the Sundowns squad that won the Champions League in 2016, he brings continental experience, having featured in SuperSport United's 2017 CAF Confederation Cup final loss to TP Mazembe.

“It would be incredible for us to make history with the club. As players, we aspire to win trophies. The last final I played with SuperSport United was in the Confederation Cup, and we lacked experience at the time,” he explained.

“I witnessed firsthand where we fell short, and now, with more experience and having played many games in this competition, I understand what it takes to reach the final and win.”

With Sundowns chasing their second Champions League title, Modiba emphasized their determination: “Winning this title has eluded us for years, but we are on the right track. We just need to perform well in both legs. The players who joined after 2016 benefited from insights shared by those who won it, emphasizing how crucial victory in this competition is.”

“We arrived with the mentality to excel in the tournament. After years of coming close, we’re finally in the final, and we want to experience the joy the team felt in 2016.”