CAFCL: Al Hilal coach rates Sundowns ahead of rematch

Al Hilal Omdurman coach Laurentiu Reghecampf has explained why he thinks Mamelodi Sundowns remain Group C favourites in the ongoing CAF Champions League (CAFCL) campaign.

The Romanian gave his assessment of the pool’s standings, holding the Pretoria-based giants to a two-all draw over the weekend.

Al-Hilal, who are based in Rwanda due to the war situation in Sudan, host Sundowns at Amahoro Stadium on Friday in the reverse tie with top spot at stake.

Ahead of the match set to kick-off at 9pm Central African Time, Reghecampf, as quoted by New Times newspaper of Rwanda, insisted that the Betway Premiership defending champions remain the group’s team to beat.

“We must understand that Mamelodi Sundowns and Al-Hilal are the two top teams in the group, but Saint-Éloi Lupopo FC and MC Algeri are also amazing teams,” the coach said.

Reghecampf then shared insights on their approach to Friday’s clash against Sundowns, stressing the importance of home-ground advantage.

“We play at home, and I hope we are going to win,” he said. “I think we need to reorganise again for the return match. We want to build on the point we got away, and look for a win at home, which can help us get closer to qualifying from the group.”

What Sundowns-Al-Hilal result mean

The result put the Sudanese giants’ level on five points with their South African counterparts at the summit. Only a point separates the joint leaders from third-placed Saint-Éloi Lupopo FC, who edged MC Alger 1-0 in Kinshasa on Sunday. Rulani Mokwena’s side anchor the four-member log table with one point from three games.

The Algerians can no longer afford any draw let alone loss as they host the Congolese opponents in the reverse fixture on Friday. Each team in the pool has three games to go with a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League at stake.

Sundowns reached the final last year when they lost to Pyramids FC of Egypt.