This Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns will face a formidable opponent in Al Hilal, coached by the experienced Florent Ibengé. Ibengé, who led DR Congo to a third place finish in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, guided Moroccan side RS Berkane to victory in the CAF Confederation Cup last season, defeating Orlando Pirates in the final. He also won the Moroccan Cup, overcoming Wydad Casablanca in a penalty shootout.
Ibengé brings a wealth of experience to the table, having guided AS Vita to the CAF Champions League final in 2014, where they lost to ES Setif. He has made an impressive start to his tenure with Al Hilal, as they currently sit top of the league standings.
NEXT GAME
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS Al-Hilal
FEB 11
⏰ 15:00
️ Loftus Stadium
SS Variety 3 208
Free Entrance if Wearing Yellow or Any Sundowns regalia CAFCL Sundowns pic.twitter.com/D6S3drlLTK— BRA_O WA LE SANDAWANA (@Owen_sandawana) February 9, 2023
Mamelodi Sundowns have been in good form in the DSTV Premiership, but the clash against Ibengé’s side will be a stern test for Rulani Mokwena, who is in his first season as head coach of the South African side.
“I’ve got big respect for Ibenge. I first met him when we played Vita a few years ago. I was still the assistant at Mamelodi Sundowns and to see how his career has progressed and how he has done exceptionally well as an African coach is something that brings a lot of motivation and gives a lot of pride and gives good inspiration,” Mokwena told media at Chloorkop ahead of the match.
“But as I always say, we give too much importance to coaches in South Africa and I don’t think we are that important. The game belongs to the players and, at the end of the day, it’s 11 versus 11 on the pitch. It’s the Sundowns players versus the Al Hilal players and those are the people everybody pays money to come and watch.”
Mamelodi Sundowns will look to get off to a positive start in the CAF Champions League when they face Al Hilal at Loftus this Saturday afternoon.
