Al Ahly tactician Marcel Koller is determined to see his team in the Caf Champions League final at the expense of the defending Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The two teams played to a goalless draw in the first leg of the semi-final staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Mzansi. Ahead of the Friday meeting at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt, the Red Devils coach is determined to successfully defend his crown.
Masandawana will be the second South African team the Club of the Century will be playing this season, after the initial meeting against Orlando Pirates in Group C. The Sea Robbers and the Red Devils played to a goalless draw at the Orlando Stadium before the Jose Riveiro-led team secured a 2-1 win away.
However, Koller is convinced his team has learnt the lesson and will give their visitors no chance.
‘Against Pirates there was no VAR'
It is very important not to talk about the past too much. Sundowns is not Orlando, and vice versa. Orlando’s victory over us in the group stage match was due to special circumstances. There was an own goal, and another goal was not counted for us because there was no VAR to review Rami Rabia’s play,” Koller said Yallakora.
“We are very well prepared for Friday's match. In the first leg, neither team was able to score, so we expect the match to be very intense. However, we will play at home in front of our fans, who will fill the stands.
“We appeal to the fans from the first moment to the last moment of the match. Help the team perform at its best. Our goal is to reach the final, and we will do everything we can to achieve that.”
The match will be played from 18:00 hours SAT.
