Mamelodi Sundowns’ advancement to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League on Tuesday night could very well spell more trouble for struggling Kaizer Chiefs.
Sundowns will host Chiefs in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane on Saturday afternoon. This could be the worst possible time for Chiefs to face Sundowns, as the Brazilians will be flying high after their recent triumph over Espérance de Tunis in the Champions League.
Sundowns advanced with a 1-0 aggregate scoreline after a Peter Shalulile strike in the first leg at home gave them the advantage, which they sorely needed ahead of the second leg in hostile Tunis on Tuesday night.
Sundowns are expected to be in a bullish mood on Saturday and beyond, as beating Espérance brings two major positives for coach Miguel Cardoso’s side.
Firstly, it means they keep their treble hopes alive, with the Nedbank Cup and Betway Premiership domestic double still on the cards. They currently boast a 12-point gap at the summit of the league standings.
Secondly, it is a huge boost to their preparations for the Fifa Club World Cup, which will be held in North America in June. There’s no better preparation for Sundowns than competing in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Espérance, the Tunisian giants, are one of the other three African clubs going to the Club World Cup, along with Egyptian side Al Ahly and Moroccan outfit Wydad AC. Sundowns are returning to the Club World Cup for the first time in almost 10 years, after their last appearance as African champions under Pitso Mosimane in 2016.
Beating the likes of Espérance will serve as excellent warm-up experience for Sundowns ahead of clashes with teams such as CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores champions Fluminense FC of Brazil, German giants Borussia Dortmund, and the lesser-known Ulsan HD of South Korea.
And so, the question arises: who are Chiefs in this puzzle?
Chiefs are currently on a four-game winless run, consisting of two draws and two losses. The quality of the opposition they have stumbled against is also telling.
Of their last four opponents, only TS Galaxy are in the Top 8. Cape Town City, with whom they drew 0-0, and Richards Bay, who beat them 2-0, are clubs fighting relegation. Lamontville Golden Arrows are not faring much better, hovering in 10th position and yet to hit the 30-point mark with no more than nine games left in their schedule.
Recent developments and rumours surrounding Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi should add further intrigue to Saturday’s fixture. After Nabi was seen actively engaging with his fellow countrymen during the post-match unrest between Espérance and Sundowns fans at Loftus Versfeld a week ago, speculation has mounted that the Tunisian club are eyeing him as their next head coach.
It’s no secret that Nabi is not enjoying the success many expected at Chiefs and could very well be growing increasingly frustrated — one match at a time.