Mamelodi Sundowns vs Petro de Luanda lineups (2nd leg) – African Football League

Mamelodi Sundowns players celebrate goal — Credit: Icon Sport

There will be fireworks at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday night as Mamelodi Sundowns vs Petro de Luanda lineup in the quarter-final first-leg of the African Football League.

Masandawana are gearing up for a return to Loftus Versfeld to host our Angolan opposition! 👆

⚽ Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Petro De Luanda
📅 24 October
⏰ 19H00 (CAT)
🏟 Loftus Versfeld Stadium
📲 #Sundowns #AFL pic.twitter.com/8kKcSvER4l

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) October 23, 2023

After successive Cup failures in domestic competition, PSL giants Mamelodi Sundowns finished high in Angola to claim a convincing win in their opening AFL fixture.

Masandawana had entered the AFL clash in Luanda on Saturday on the back of defeats to TS Galaxy (Carling Knockout last 16) and Orlando Pirates (MTN8 final) after failing in penalty shoot-outs on both occasions.

Marcelo Allende and Thapelo Maseko scored in the second half to hand the Brazilians a crucial advantage ahead of Tuesday's matchup.

Petro de Luanda had the better of the exchanges in the first leg, and had they taken their chances in that game–which included a penalty miss–the outcome might have been different. Nonetheless, they face an uphill task in South Africa as they try to overcome a two-nil deficit.

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Petro de Luanda team news

Coach of Sundowns, Rhulani Mokwena, has assured the media that the first leg scoreline did not guarantee his team a place in the semi-finals.

“No, we are not in the semifinals. You have seen many things happen in football. You have seen teams come back from even greater scorelines,” said Mokwena.

“We look forward to taking this scoreline to South Africa, but we approach it as 0-0 and a different ball game.

“My message to the players is to remind them about a game (against TS Galaxy) we played a few days ago in a Cup match in South Africa. At halftime, we were 2-0 down but we came back in the second half to make it 2-2. For me, this is the halftime score after 90 minutes.

Mamelodi Sundowns players — Credit: Icon Sport

“It is important for us to stay humble and stay very focused. We respect our opponents and the quality they have. We play the game and not the scoreline.”

Sundowns and Petro are expected to not make so many changes to their starting eleven from the first leg.

Mendieta, Zwane and Mkhulise should retain their places in the final third for Sundowns, while Guedes and Toro play upfront for the visitors.