After Mamelodi Sundowns lost to Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final, Soccer Laduma compares the squad values and who has the most valuable players between the sides.
Sundowns went to the CAF Champions League final as favourites, considering their experience in the tournament but they were humbled by a club with a scant fan base, although they boast rich Arab owner, Salem Al Shamsi.
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It was generally perceived, therefore that the final was a level playing field, in terms of how the both clubs are big spenders and have wealthy owners.
However, the Tshwane giants' squad value is almost double the side of Pyramids, with a total of R714, 6 million, according to Transfermarkt.
The Egyptian club have a squad value of R406 million and as such, Masandawana had far much more quality at their disposal than head coach Krunoslav Jurcic.
Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso will therefore face much more scrutiny, as in the same vein, he had players of far more quality, with at least four players, valued over R40 million each, compared to Pyramids, who have only one player valued above R40 million, winger Ibrahim Adel.
Lucas Ribeiro Costa is the most valued player at The Brazilians, weighted at R50 million, followed by Teboho Mokoena and Marcelo Allende, rated to be worth R46, 7 million each while Tashreeq Matthews is in a similar rank, valued at R40, 6 million.
In comparison, apart from Adel, Pyramids have four other high value players, Ramadan Sobhi, Sodiq Awujoola, Mostafa Fathi and Fiston Mayele, all weighted at R30, 4 million.
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Former head coach Rulani Mokwena was relieved of his duties at The Brazilians after the club indicated in a statement that he did not meet the objectives and expectations, with the CAF Champions League elimination in the semi-finals seemingly costing him his job.
On paper, Sundowns should be walking through Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final and it remains to be seen if Masawandawana would deem the Portuguese coach not to have met the expectations, especially after the FIFA Club World Cup.
