The FIFA Club World Cup is set to kick off in Japan with clubs that have won their respective continent’s premier club competition expected to compete for the world crown.

South African ABSA Premiership club, Mamelodi Sundowns, which is the current employer of Liberian international forward Anthony Snoti Laffor, will represent Africa at the competition after winning the CAF Champions League back in October with 3-1 aggregate win over 12 times Egyptian Premier League champions, Zamalek SC.

The competition favorites have always been clubs from Europe and South America, with African clubs been considered as the perennial underdogs. CAF Champions League highest carrier, Al Ahly took the world by surprise in 2006 by reaching the semifinals of the competition before being knocked out by the Brazilian club, Internacional.

Four years later, Congolese club TP Mazembe went against all odds as they reached the final of the competition. The five-time CAF Champions League victors produced a major shock in the competition, by eliminating then South American Champions, Internacional, in the semifinals. They became the first and only African club to have reached the final. However, they were unable to continue their winning form and bowed 3-1 to Italian club, Inter Milan in the final.

With the efforts of the two previous African Champions, Laffor is confident that his Sundowns can cause a major shock by winning the title. He told The Bush Chicken that the entire team was committed to winning and they would work harder to achieve their goal.

“This is about the entire Africa and not Sundowns alone,” he said. “We are ready for the Club World Cup. We came here with one thought, and that is to win the competition. It sounds difficult, but we will work harder for it.”

Another history is set to be made in Liberian soccer if Laffor makes an appearance at the competition. Any appearance for Laffor will make him the first and only Liberian to play in a FIFA Club World Cup. Laffor, who made history by becoming the first and only Liberian to win a continental club competition, revealed to The Bush Chicken that it would be a dream come true for him, as he has wished for it despite playing his entire professional football on the African continent.

“I have long been waiting for this moment of my career,” Laffor said. “Now, I have it, and I’m looking forward to fulfilling my dream. When I walk on the pitch, I will enter with all I have within. I’m going there to do my best to help Sundowns make history.”

The Sundowns will kick off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Dec. 11 when they face the Kashima Antlers of Japan.

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.