Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams anticipates that Al Ahly will adopt a defensive strategy for their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg, given that they are playing away from home.

Sundowns are scheduled to host the reigning Champions League holders and 12-time champions at Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with the aim of securing a favorable result in their bid to reach the final.

The African Giants have come close to reaching the Champions League final in the past two seasons, only to be eliminated at the semi-final stage by Wydad Casablanca and Esperance, respectively.

As they prepare to host the first leg, Adams, who joined Sundowns during the January transfer window, believes that Al Ahly will likely sit deep defensively and primarily look to capitalize on counter-attacks or set-piece opportunities.

However, he assured that Sundowns are well-prepared for this approach, emphasizing the importance of securing a positive result at home before traveling to Cairo for the return leg next weekend.

“I think for us, they may come and defend here, because they know how to win trophies, especially in the Champions League,” said Adams. 

“But we are prepared for that, to attack with many numbers. Hopefully, we can get the win.” 

Sundowns reached the semi-final after a challenging quarter-final tie against Esperance, winning the first leg 1-0 in South Africa before securing a goalless draw away to progress on aggregate. Notably, the Tunisian side also employed a defensive approach in South Africa, which ultimately worked against them as they lost the tie.

Furthermore, Sundowns are currently unbeaten in their last seven matches against Al Ahly across all competitions, including a victory against them in the semi-final of the inaugural African Football League last season, a competition that Sundowns went on to win.

In fact, Al Ahly has a poor record in South Africa in the Champions League, having failed to win in close to 15 matches. They drew against Orlando Pirates in the group stages this season, with the Soweto Giants winning the away fixture and topping the group.

Adams, who joined Sundowns from Stellenbosch in January on a contract until 2028, has seamlessly integrated into the team’s setup.

He has featured in 17 matches, scoring three goals. Notably, he netted the decisive extra-time winner in Sundowns’ Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash against Sekhukhune United late last month.

His other goals came in commanding 3-0 and 4-1 victories for Sundowns against SuperSport United and TS Galaxy, respectively, in the Betway Premiership.

“I think for me it was not easy to fit in the team,” Adams reflected on his initial adjustment.  

“But in this team, we like to have the ball, we need to press. Sometimes they say I’m lazy, but I just know where to play in the spaces. 

“But the team has helped me a lot, especially the coach [Miguel Cardoso]. He has made me a different player now.”