Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams wants his team to ensure they secure a big home win against Al Ahly in their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg.
Sundowns host record African champions Al Ahly in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday April 19 before the return match in Cairo a week later and Adams understands fully well what is at stake.
With Al Ahly known to grow in strength as the competition progresses, which has seen them win a record 12 African titles, including the last two, Adams feels Sundowns can do themselves justice by putting the tie to bed on home soil before they play on enemy territory.
How does Adams want Downs to finish off Al Ahly?
“I think the preparation is going well after coming from a loss against Chiefs, going into this one, especially Sundowns are a very good team against another one, in Al Ahly, it’s a nice experience for us and we’re prepared well,” Adams said of Sundowns’ preparations following last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semi-final.
“The focus is more on us beating them here, so away it’s very difficult [in Cairo]. We need to score as many goals as possible here to make it easier for ourselves going away, where they are very good in the Champions League, they know how to win trophies.”
Adams describes the match as the biggest of his career and wants to make the best of it, counting on the camaraderie within Miguel Cardoso’s squad, to carry them through.
Sundowns midfielder counting on good team mood
“The mood is good, the [Chiefs game] is behind us now, we move on to the next one, so I think the mindset and focus from the players is on Al Ahly, we’re preparing well,” Adams said.
“I think this is the biggest [game of my career so far], I’m very excited and especially because it’s a CAF game, the club wants to win trophies, wants to get another star, so we’re going to work on that.”
Adams has become an integral member of Sundowns since joining in the January transfer window from Stellenbosch FC and has scored four goals and provided two assists for his new team.
His movement, range of passing and quality on the ball have elevated Sundowns’ game and they will be looking up to him and the rest of the star-studded team to fire them to the final as the club has made winning the Champions League a priority this season.
