Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro of Mamelodi Sundowns and Congolese Fiston Mayele of Pyramids are potential match-winners within the CAF Champions League remaining first leg in Pretoria on Saturday.
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Ribeiro, 26, has scored 16 targets within the South African Premiership this season, making him odds-on favorite to win the Golden Boot award.
The South American did endure a mid-season purpose drought, however bagged a brace final weekend as Sundowns clinched a record-extending eighth consecutive home league title.
“He is not only the best footballer in South Africa, he is the best footballer in Africa,” stated teammate Marcelo Allende, a Chilean.
Ribeiro moved to Pretoria-based Sundowns from Belgian membership Beveren in mid 2023 and is scorching favorite to be voted the 2024/2025 South African Footballer of the Yr.
He has by no means represented Brazil, main some soccer followers to push for him to be granted citizenship and included within the South African nationwide squad.
South African worldwide Iqraam Rayners additionally poses a significant risk, having scored 21 targets in South African and continental competitions this time period.
Sundowns know all about Mayele having watched him wreck desires of an all-South African remaining within the premier African membership competitors, which affords a $4 million first prize.
Egyptian hopefuls Pyramids confronted Orlando Pirates, the opposite South African challengers, within the semi-finals and, after a goalless first leg in Johannesburg, received the return match 3-2 in Cairo.
Pirates led twice in Egypt and had been six minutes away from qualifying for the title decider when the Congolese pounced on a free ball after a nook and scored the decisive purpose.
Mayele, 30, additionally scored the primary equaliser, and his eight targets make him the main scorer within the Champions League this season.
“Fiston is a very good player, but he is not our sole concern. We are focusing on the team rather than individuals,” veteran Sundowns defender Mosa Lebusa advised reporters.
Pyramids have reached the ultimate at solely the second try after drawing away and shedding at residence to Sundowns final season within the group section, and boast one other scientific finisher in Ibrahim Adel.
The scorer of six targets within the African marketing campaign, he missed each legs of the semi-final conquer Pirates as a consequence of harm.
Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic has included Adel within the squad for the primary leg, however needed to omit Nigerian Sodiq Ougola, who injured a knee in coaching.
Whereas Mayele and Adel have contributed 14 of the 34 targets scored by Pyramids in 14 matches en path to the ultimate, the opposite 20 got here from 16 totally different gamers.
As Jurcic, 55, prepares for his largest problem since being employed by Pyramids final 12 months, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, 52, has reached back-to-back Champions League finals.
He took Esperance of Tunisia to the decider final season, the place they fell 1-0 on mixture to Al Ahly of Egypt, probably the most profitable Champions League membership with 12 titles.
“We have done a thorough analysis of Sundowns and have spotted some weaknesses in their defensive set-up,” stated the previous Croatia midfielder.
Cardoso believes “the strongest warriors will emerge victorious in the final. Our squad is talented, energetic, happy and looking forward to the challenge.”
Sundowns have reached three Champions League finals. They misplaced to Ahly in 2001 and defeated one other Egyptian large, Zamalek, 15 years later.
A prolonged season for the South Africans doesn’t finish with the return match on June 1 they then face Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan of South Korea within the Membership World Cup.
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