Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has shared his thoughts after his side were once again pitted against Egyptian giants in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
For the fourth year in a row, reigning DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns are set to take on Egyptian giants Al Ahly after being drawn alongside the record 10-time CAF Champions League champions in Group B of the competition.
Sundowns did the double over a then Pitso Mosimane-led Ahly in the group stages during the 2021/22 campaign, although the Egyptians ultimately went on to reach the final regardless of the early setback, while the North Africans eliminated their Southern rivals in the quarter-finals of the campaign before en route to winning the trophy.
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"It's always difficult to travel to Cairo. We know that," Masandawana coach Rulani Mokwena said following the draw.
"Al Ahly are always difficult to play against away from home, not just the environment and the hostility around traveling to Cairo and playing in their own backyard, but they've changed the coaches and also made a lot of improvements to the squad so technically it's going to be a bit different.
"We've already seen a couple of their games but now we have to zoom in, and zoom in with a little bit more of a technical focus and already we have our analysts working around the clock to get as much information as we possibly can.
"But of course, over the years this has now become a very big fixture between Sundowns and Al Ahly and both home and away is going to be very strategic, very tactical and we expect that, particularly because we know how Al Ahly always seem to play against Sundowns.
"The personality they adopt in their home and away matches is completely different, a different approach, but it will be a very interesting game, for sure, against two teams who know each other very well and who have enough quality to compete against each other."
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