Mamelodi Sundowns' Departure Delayed for CAF Champions League Final
Mamelodi Sundowns are anticipated to finally leave South Africa on Wednesday morning, as they prepare for their critical second leg match in the 2025-26 CAF Champions League final against AS FAR in Rabat on Sunday. Initially, the team was scheduled to depart on Tuesday; however, their plans were thwarted due to the Moroccan aviation authorities not issuing the necessary landing permit, which has sparked considerable criticism towards the Moroccan officials for their perceived lack of sportsmanship.
This delay poses a significant challenge for Sundowns, as they are already navigating a demanding domestic schedule and now have limited time to adequately prepare for a match that could secure them a second title in this prestigious competition. The postponement has been particularly disappointing for head coach Miguel Cardoso and his technical team, who find themselves losing an entire day of valuable preparation time. Consequently, the players will be unable to train on Wednesday, as their travel will impede their ability to focus on the upcoming game.
Moreover, this setback restricts their opportunity to acclimatize to the conditions in Rabat, which is crucial for optimizing performance. Under the original itinerary, Sundowns were expected to arrive in Morocco on Tuesday evening and commence training on Wednesday; however, they will now only be able to conduct a full training session on Thursday. Upon their arrival in Rabat on Wednesday night, they will likely engage in a light recovery session, possibly utilizing the swimming pool facilities to ease their travel fatigue.
As they head into the second leg, Sundowns carry a narrow advantage, having secured a 1-0 victory at Loftus Versfeld last Sunday, thanks to a first-half goal from Aubrey Modiba. This match, however, was overshadowed by instances of crowd violence and issues with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), adding further challenges to their campaign. The team's focus now shifts entirely to the forthcoming encounter, as they strive for glory in the CAF Champions League.
As reported by timeslive.co.za.
