Africa’s biggest club competition, the CAF Champions League, will resume over the weekend with South African ABSA Premiership champions, the Mamelodi Sundowns, playing away at Zambia Premier League giant Zesco United in an all-southern Africa semifinal matchup.

The Sundowns proved to be a major contender for the title during the group stage with some spectacular display. They opened up the competition with an astonishing 2-1 win away at Tunisian giant, Es Setif before getting a narrow 1-0 win at home over Nigeria Premier League side, Eyinmba Football Club.

The club made name for themselves when they recorded surprise back-to-back wins over Egyptian premier league giant and five-time CAF Champions league winner, Zamalek Soccer Club, to finish as winners of Group B.

With Sundowns recording four wins from five matches played in in the group stage, Anthony Laffor refused to underrate Zesco as he considers them a strong team.

“It is true that we have had some good winning form in the Champions League, but we have to remain focused, because this match is a different one,” Laffor said in an interview. “Zesco is not an easy side. They too have shown their strength in the competition. They won stronger teams in the group stage, and so, we are very careful.”

Despite the Sundowns winning two of their three away matches in the group stage, Laffor said the Sundowns would go to Zambia with the primary objective of avoiding defeat.

“We have been winning away, but for now, we are focusing on avoiding defeat, and want to return home with at least a point. We want to win, but that is our primary objective,” he said.

The first leg is will be played on September 17 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, with the return leg scheduled for September 24, at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.