The 2017 CAF Champions has reached its semifinals stage with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns bowing out of the competition in the quarterfinals.
The Sundowns, which features Liberian international forward Anthony Snoti Laffor, bowed out of Africa’s premier club competition over the weekend after a penalty shootout loss to Wydad Casablanca of the Moroccan Botola Pro League.
After 90 minutes of play, which ended one goal apiece, Wydad, the former club of Liberian international striker, William Jebor, advanced to the semifinals with a 3-2 win from the penalty spot. The Sundowns managed to grab a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg at the Lucas Moripe Masterpieces Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa and needed to avoid a defeat away from home to book a place in the semifinals.
However, they were unable to prevent the Moroccan from scoring in the return leg, as they went to the first half break with a goal down. Moroccan midfielder Salah Eddine Saidi scored in the 26th minute to put Wydad ahead and level the score on aggregates. The South Africans returned from the break on a very high note but were unable to get a goal in the remaining 45 minutes as the match ended with a 1-0 win to Wydad.
With the first leg ending with a 1-0 win in favor of the Sundowns, the end result of the second leg tied the score 1-1 on aggregate, and the winner had to be decided from the penalty spot where the South Africans converted just two of their kicks as Wydad got three at the back of the net to march onto the semifinals.
Laffor, who missed the first leg due to an ankle injury, didn’t have a part to play in the defeat to Wydad despite being declared fit to play by the team doctors.
The Sundowns are the defending champions of the CAF Champions League. They beat Egyptian Premier League giant Zamalek SC 3-1 on aggregate to win their first champions league title in 2016.
All of the Sundowns’ focus will now turn to domestic football where they will be hoping to get their hands on the South Africa ABSA Premiership title for the eighth time. They are currently seated at the ninth spot with six points from three games. They are six points behind league leader, the Golden Arrows, which has 12 points from six games, three games more than the Sundowns.
Featured photo courtesy of Mamelodi Sundowns
