Lunga Fires Warning Shot To Dortmund Ahead Of CWC Clash

Mamelodi Sundowns defender Divine Lunga has issued a stern warning to German giants Borussia Dortmund ahead of the two teams’ meeting in group F of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at TQL Stadium on Saturday.

Masandawana lead the pack with three points accumulated at the summit after claiming a 1-0 win over five-time South Korean champions Ulsan HD in their opening match of the global tournament, thanks to Iqraam Rayners’ strike on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga outfit settled for a share of the spoils in their curtain raiser against Brazilian side Fluminense a day before. Niko Kovac’s men are currently in second place and will be determined to get off the mark against the South African champions.

With their second match on the horizon, the Zimbabwean international reflected on Downs’ good start to the campaign, expressing delight on how the Tshwane juggernauts executed their game plan against Ulsan.

“We are happy about the win, I think we gave it our all, everyone fought to get a win. Ulsan played the way we expected because we analyzed the games they played before they came this side [in the USA],” said Lunga.

“So, we expected the things they did on the field, and we did our analysis in a good way, so I think we did well. There were no surprises from their side. When they made the changes, they started to change a bit on their structure, but I think it was still going well on our side.” 

Now, Miguel Cardoso’s troops will switch their focus to the Black and Yellow. While Dortmund might have a better global appeal and stature compared to Sundowns, Lunga is adamant the CAF Champions League finalists can stand their ground in the clash.

“I think everyone knows what Dortmund is capable of. It’s not a small team; they are big guns. Yes, we might be underdogs, but they know where we come from, they know who Mamelodi Sundowns is, they know what happens when you meet Mamelodi Sundowns,” he added.

“But I think even Dortmund [is aware of our threat] because I read an interview of their coach talking about us. I think it’s going to be a tough game; it won’t be an easy one. It remains to be seen who will reign supreme in the high-stakes encounter in Cincinnati.” 

Interestingly, Tashreeq Matthews will square off against his former club in the match, having represented the Germans in the junior ranks.