Williams Relies On Loftus Home Record For Sundowns’ Intercontinental Cup Clash
Mamelodi Sundowns captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says the team will lean heavily on their formidable home record when they host star-studded Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli SC in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
Sundowns earned home-field advantage courtesy of a superior FIFA World Ranking following their participation in last year’s FIFA Club World Cup.
The African champions welcome an Al Ahli squad featuring international stars including former Juventus defender Merih Demiral, England striker Ivan Toney, and former Senegal international goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The Saudi side also boasts a Brazilian quartet—defender Roger Ibañez, Matheus Gonçalves, and forwards Galeno and Ricardo Mathias—alongside Portugal international forward Francisco Trincão and French youth international midfielder Valentin Atangana anchoring the engine room.
Ahli comes to this match having won the Asian Champions League in the past two seasons.
However, the visitors face a Sundowns team that has turned Loftus Versfeld into an impenetrable fortress.
Masandawana are unbeaten in 34 home league matches at the Pretoria venue since May 2024, recording 31 victories and three draws.
That dominant record has provided extra motivation for Williams ahead of the high-stakes international clash.
“This is key: starting the season on a positive note,” said Williams, who will lead the line against the Saudis.
“We have done that; we have done extremely well in the league and in the MTN8, where we are in the final.
“There is a bigger one to look forward to now, which is the FIFA Intercontinental Cup quarter-final against Al Ahli.
“The form that we have been in has obviously been good. Hopefully, it can carry us through to the semi-final on Saturday. It is a home game for us, and we know our record at home. Hopefully, that can help us get the job done and lift the first trophy of the season.”
Adding intrigue to the fixture is the shared legacy of Pitso Mosimane. The South African tactician managed Sundowns between 2012 and 2020, guiding them to six league titles and the 2016 CAF Champions League trophy. Mosimane also enjoyed a brief spell in charge of Al Ahli between September 2022 and June 2023, leading the Jeddah club back to the Saudi Pro League before his departure.
The winner of this quarter-final match is officially awarded the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup title and trophy on the night prior to advancing to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup semi-finals in December.
Should they advance, Sundowns will face the winner of the FIFA Derby of the Americas—contended between Mexican side Toluca and the CONMEBOL Libertadores champions—for the opportunity to meet European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the final later this year.
