Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club hosts South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in a thrilling first-leg final of the African Football League (“AFL”) on Sunday in Morocco at Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V at 19H00 local time (18H00 GMT and 20H00 Cairo time).
The second leg will be played in Pretoria (Tshwane), South Africa, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, 12 November at 15H00 local time (13H00 GMT and 15H00 Cairo time) where the Inaugural African Football League (“AFL”) Champions will be crowned.
Mamelodi Sundowns FC and Wydad Casablanca have battled in a total of 12 games. Of these ties, Mamelodi Sundowns FC emerged victorious in 3, while Wydad Casablanca secured 4 wins. Additionally, 5 matches concluded in a draw. On average, in their direct matches, both teams scored approximately 1.42 goals per game.
In the current season, Mamelodi Sundowns FC has been performing impressively, averaging 2.00 goals per match. In 5 of their matches played at home (83.33% of the time), the total number of goals, combining both the home team and the opponent, exceeded 1.5 goals. Moreover, in 4 of these home matches (66.67%), the total goals went beyond 2.5, Lineupfor.info reports.
Nonetheless, Wydad Casablanca has maintained an average of 1.75 goals per match in the 2023 season. In 3 of their away matches (75.00% of the time), the total goals reached over 1.5, indicating an offensive style of play. Furthermore, in 2 of these away games (50.00%), the total goals surpassed 2.5, highlighting their ability to produce high-scoring matches on the road.
Wydad Casablanca comes into the upcoming match with a strong recent performance, winning 4 out of their last five games (against Chabab Mohammédia, Riadi Salmi, CR Khemis Zemamra, and Ittihad Tanger), without any losses, and 1 draw in a match against RSB Berkane. Over this period, they managed to score a total of 7 goals while conceding 6 (7-6).
In their away matches, Wydad Casablanca demonstrated a solid attacking capability, averaging 1.67 goals per game, while maintaining a fairly sturdy defense by conceding an average of 0.83 goals. The team accrued 12 yellow cards and one red card, indicating their discipline on the field with a total of 21 fouls committed. Wydad Casablanca has an average team rating of 0 per match, showcasing their overall performance level.
Wydad Casablanca has excelled in maintaining ball possession this season, with an impressive average of 57.67% throughout their campaign.
Mamelodi Sundowns heads into this upcoming match with an impressive recent record, having won 4 out of their last five games (against Richards Bay, Polokwane City, Orlando Pirates, and Stellenbosch), with 0 losses and 1 draw in a fixture against Chippa United. During this period, they managed to score a total of 5 goals while conceding only 3 (5-3).
In their away games, Mamelodi Sundowns exhibited strong attacking prowess, averaging 2.13 goals per match, while their defense remained resolute, conceding just 0.38 goals per game on average. However, the team accumulated 25 yellow cards and 2 red cards, reflecting their aggressive style of play. Additionally, they were involved in a total of 129 fouls. Mamelodi Sundowns maintained an average team rating of 6.74 per match, demonstrating their overall solid performance.
Possession of the ball has been a key strength for Mamelodi Sundowns this season, as they have averaged an impressive 66.38% ball possession throughout their campaign.
Predicted Starting Lineup for Wydad AC:
Wydad AC Lineup Key Players
Zouhair El Moutaraji is another essential player for Wydad AC. He is an exceptional finisher as a striker, which makes him deadly close to goal. He stands out from others in his position thanks to his ability to remain calm under pressure.
Mohamed Ounajem, who plays on the left wing, has established himself as a dynamic player due to his excellent dribbling and precise turns to the penalty area.
Predicted Starting Lineup for Mamelodi Sundowns Today:
Mamelodi Sundowns Lineup Key Players
Mamelodi Sundowns, a South African football team, has been enjoying remarkable success recently. The team’s standout players are expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming match against Wydad Casablanca.
A. Boutouil, known for adding stability and maturity to the defense, will undoubtedly step into the defensive leadership role in the backline. His expertise in set-pieces will also contribute to the team’s offensive capabilities.
Furthermore, Ronwen Williams, one of Africa’s top goalkeepers, should not be underestimated. Keep an eye out for another exceptional performance from him in the upcoming game.
The spotlight will be on Themba Zwane, a highly skilled midfielder who has been in outstanding form this season. His ability to create opportunities seemingly out of thin air and score goals on his own makes him a constant threat on the field.
Namibian attacker Peter Shalulile, who joined Sundowns at the beginning of the last season, is another player to watch closely for his impact on the game.
The African Football League (“AFL”) is a CAF (The Confederation of African Football) competition established in partnership with the international football governing body (FIFA). One of the main objectives of the African Football League (“AFL”) is to ensure that the quality of African Club football is globally competitive and commercially viable.
African Football League (“AFL”) Prize Money:
The Winner of the Inaugural African Football League (“AFL”) will receive Prize Money of USD 4 Million.
The other Prize Monies are:
Runner-up: USD 3 million
Semi-finalists: USD 1,7 million each
Quarter-finalists: USD 1 million each
