Mamelodi Sundowns' Lucas Ribeiro fights for the ball with Ahmed Hashem of Al Ahly during their first leg clash in Pretoria.
Image: Backpagepix
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns arrived in Cairo, Egypt, this week eager to beat Pyramids and Al Ahly to book an all-South African CAF Champions League final.
Pirates and Sundowns were solid in defence in their respective semi-final first leg as they held Al Ahly and Pyramids to stalemates in Soweto and Pretoria.
And with a win (even on penalties) or scoring draw all set to be enough for the duo to get the job done on Friday night, we look at how SA teams have fared in their last five visits to Cairo.
Al Ahly 1 - 2 Orlando Pirates
Pirates beat the Red Devils in their last game of the group stage this season as they finished top of Group C with 14 points thanks to four wins and two draws.
They achieved the shocking win at the hostile Cairo International Stadium courtesy of goals from Relebohile Mofokeng and Tshegofatso Mabasa.
Ahly 0 - 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns were crowned the inaugural African Football League champions last season after beating Wydad Casablanca 3-2 on aggregate.
The Brazilians had to get past Al Ahly in the semi-final in which they got the job done by winning 1-0 at home, via Thapelo Maseko’s goal, before holding on for a stalemate in Cairo.
Al Ahly 2 - 2 Mamelodi Sundowns
The reign of co-coaches Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mnqithi during the 2022/23 season on the continent unfortunately ended in the semi-final.
But they’ll have good memories of drawing 2-2 with Al Ahly away in the group stage first leg, via Peter Peter Shalulile and Thapelo Morena goals, before hammering them 5-2 at home.
Al Ahly 0 - 1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Since 2020, Al Ahly had never lost or conceded against Sundowns at home. But that changed during the 2021/2022 season in the group stage.
Thapelo Morena’s lone, late, goal in Cairo ensured that the Pretoria based club bagged their first ever goal and victory since their poor run of form.
Al Ahly 2 - 0 Mamelodi Sundowns
The last time Sundowns finished lower than the semi-final in the Champions League was during the 2020/2021 season after losing 3-1 in the quarter-final on aggregate to Al Ahly.
The Red Devils made lightwork of the Brazilians, beating them 2-0 at home, before the two teams drew 1-1 in Pretoria, with Mosa Lebosa scoring the hosts’ goal.