FIFACWC: “Mamelodi Sundowns must not be seen as pushovers” – Kovac

Manager of Borussia Dortmund Niko Kovac has admitted that African giants, Mamelodi Sundowns will be a tough opponent when they clash in the second group F game of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday June 21.

Dortmund come into the game from a goalless draw encounter against Brazil side Fluminense on June 17 while Mamelodi Sundowns produced a confident 1-0 win over Korean outfit, Ulsan Hyundai.

Kovac believes that Dortmund and Fluminense are the group favorites but Mamelodi Sundowns cannot be described as pushovers.

“As I said before, at the beginning of the press conference I think Fluminense and my team are for sure the favorites but in football you must play the games.

“I am sure that we are the favorites so for sure we are expecting now the next game we want to see the game against Sundowns and Ulsan, we want to watch it just to get more impression.

“We have some impressions and we know that Sundowns they played in the Champions League finals of Africa a weeks ago and it’s a tough opponent so you saw in the other games that they worked hard against other African teams, they are strong, they are powerful so for that we need to refresh our minds and be fully prepared because the next game is very important for us.”

Sundowns top Group F with three points after opening day victory with Dortmund and Fluminense sharing a point apiece. Ulsan Hyundai sit bottom of the group with no points.