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Brian Mandela leads Mamelodi Sundowns' quest to protect their historic home record against Pyramids FC in Champions League showdown.
Mamelodi Sundowns are gearing up for a pivotal clash against Egyptian powerhouse Pyramids FC this Sunday, desperately seeking to avoid consecutive group stage losses for the first time in their illustrious history in the CAF Champions League.
The stakes could not be higher as all the teams in Group A find themselves deadlocked with three points each, with the Pretoria-based outfit leading the group solely on the basis of goal difference.
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21:48 - 08.12.2023
STARS ABROAD Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno gears up to shine in Ndola Derby as Zesco United face Forest Rangers
Harambee Stars' Ian Otieno prepares for Ndola Derby as Zesco United and Forest Rangers vie for city bragging rights.
Bafana Ba Style, as they are affectionately known, enter this showdown with Pyramids fresh from a heart-wrenching 1-0 defeat in Lubumbashi against TP Mazembe.
In that match, the Kenyan international Brian Mandela played a crucial role, featuring for 77 minutes and receiving a yellow card.
Despite the loss, Sundowns were undeniably the superior side, with an astonishing six shots on target and three others finding the woodwork.
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14:36 - 08.12.2023
STARS ABROAD Al Duhail provide injury update about Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga
Olunga came off the bench to score a goal against Persepolis but had to be substituted again during stoppage time.
Over the last three decades, the Lucas Moripe Stadium has emerged as a fortress, arguably the most formidable in all of African club football.
Since their inaugural home match in 1994, a resounding 4-1 victory over Lesotho's Arsenal, Sundowns have faced a mere two defeats on their home turf—an achievement that goes unnoticed amidst their many other record-breaking feats.
Remarkably, it was not until 2017 that Sundowns suffered their first home defeat, succumbing 2-1 to Tunisian giants Esperance in the group stage.
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10:00 - 03.12.2023
STARS ABROAD Kenyan striker Jonah Ayunga sets season goals with St Mirren following comeback from knee injury
Ayunga, who has already said he would love to help Harambee Stars qualify for the FIFA World Cup, has now clocked 90 minutes under his belt over two appearances since returning from ACL injury.
Despite going down by a goal early on, Sibusiso Vilakazi's equalizer had Sundowns poised for a draw. Heartbreakingly, in the dying minutes, a contentious penalty allowed Esperance to snatch victory from the defending champions' grasp.
Their second and most recent loss at home came in 2021 against Algerian outfit Belouizdad.
Having already secured qualification in the top spot of their pool, Sundowns opted for a rotated, much-changed starting lineup in what was essentially a dead rubber.
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13:11 - 25.11.2023
FOOTBALL Ronaldo leading Benzema, Mahrez, Olunga in Middle East Player of the Year award polls
Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga is in contention for the award which will be handed on 19th January 2024.
Belouizdad seized this opportunity to claim a 2-0 win, securing their own passage to the quarterfinals as runners-up.
Aside from these two rare anomalies, Sundowns have wielded absolute control on their home turf, emerging victorious in a staggering 55 of their 73 home matches, with 16 draws to complement their dominant wins.
They have netted an astounding 120 more goals than their opponents , showcasing their utter supremacy in Pretoria.
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08:41 - 09.12.2023
FOOTBALL Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Major test for the Gunners as Mikel Arteta seek to end Villa’s formidable home record
Arsenal will are hoping to extend their Premier League lead but face a daunting task at Aston Villa who have not lost at home since February
This remarkable home record underscores the colossal challenge that visiting teams face when playing against Sundowns in South Africa.
To secure a victory against this formidable side on their home ground, Pyramids FC will need to deliver a performance of historic proportions.
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