CAFCL: Sundowns braced for 'physical' Al Ahly - Tashreeq Matthews

Sundowns v Al Ahly: Photo Courtesy Al Ahly Media.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tashreeq Matthews has echoed team-mate Divine Lunga's warning that the South African side should expect a physical contest against Al Ahly on April 25.

Matthews told Sundowns' website that the Pretoria-based side should be ready to fight in the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg match at Cairo International Stadium.

“It’s going to be a physical game, and we will have to do what we have to do to try and get the three points. In the first leg, Al Ahly defended very well and made good runs. So we will need to cut their flow very early in the game, to get what we want out of this game, which is a positive result,” the midfielder said.

Earlier, defender Lunga said the CAF Champions League holders are tough to play against, especially at home because of their "very" physical approach. “We are going to bring our A-game so that we can win. Al Ahly play a physical game, so we have to be strong if we want to win,” he said.

The two giants of African football played out a goalless draw in the CAF Champions League semi-final first leg in South Africa on April 19. Miguel Cardoso’s side are chasing their first continental title since 2016, when Pitso Mosimane led them to glory.

To reach the last four, Sundowns edged past Espérance Sportive de Tunis with a 1-0 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.