Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi has come out in full support of Mamelodi Sundowns following their 1-1 draw against Egyptian giants Pyramids in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final on Saturday.
Read: ‘It Broke Me’ – Mofokeng’s Mom Opens Up
The match, staged at a packed Loftus Versfeld Stadium, saw Sundowns take the lead but surrender a late equaliser as the visitors netted a potentially vital away goal. While many viewed the result as a setback for the Brazilians ahead of the decisive second leg in Cairo, Ncikazi offered a more optimistic perspective.
Ncikazi knows better than most what Pyramids are capable of, having seen his own team’s dreams of an all-South African Champions League final dashed by the Egyptians in the semi-finals. Yet despite their resilience, the Pirates coach believes the tie remains in Sundowns’ hands.
“Sundowns are at a stage where they are representing the country, they’re no longer just representing the team,” he said.
“We support them. Sundowns have done it before. I thought they’ve had results where things didn’t go their way at home but when they went away, they got the result.”
His confidence stems from Sundowns’ history of success in hostile territories across the continent. Miguel Cardoso’s side have already produced notable away performances in this season’s campaign, including their convincing victories in North Africa and solid showings on the road.
Read: De Reuck Back In SA After Israeli Struggles
Ncikazi also pointed to the away-goal rule and how it plays into Sundowns’ hands heading into the second leg. “Remember this is CAF, scoring a goal away from home counts for a lot,” he continued. “They just need to score one goal. If the score is 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3, it favours Sundowns. For me, the result favours them more than Pyramids.”
