Ahead of the return leg against Wiliete SC on Friday at Loftus Versfeld, Thapelo Morena does not shy away from the reigning African champions’ status as favourites: “We’re going to give everything,” promises the Sundowns full-back.
The return leg is not yet played. After the 0-0 draw brought back from the Estádio Nacional da Tundavala in Angola, Mamelodi Sundowns host Wiliete SC on Friday 23 October at 20:00 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, in the second leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round. Thapelo Morena addressed the situation head-on at a press conference, SABC Sport reports.
The 33-year-old full-back or right winger did not dodge the label attached to the South African club. “As a team, we take it as a responsibility. We can do it and we want to do it because we’ve already done it at home in the league. We know teams will come at us with everything,” he told journalists.
Eleven seasons at Sundowns
Morena is in his 11th season in Sundowns colours, according to FARPost. The club, for its part, has reached the CAF Champions League group stage for ten seasons running, according to SABC Sport. Sundowns are also the reigning African champions, News24 recalls.
Seven matches and a missed World Cup
This season, the player has featured more regularly as a right winger, FARPost notes. He has played seven matches in all competitions, including the Intercontinental Cup against Al Ahli and the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates.
Morena had missed the 2026 World Cup because of an injury sustained just before the finals, FARPost reports.
His message for the return leg comes down to a few words. “At home, on our pitch, we know it’s different. We’re going to give everything, that’s what matters most on the pitch,” he told Vodacom Soccer.
A rule to handle with care
The framework of the return leg remains delicate, however. According to Vodacom Soccer, if the scores are level on goals in the return leg, Sundowns would be eliminated on the away goals rule, with a 0-0 leading straight to a penalty shootout.
Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns’ head coach, for his part calls for not getting ahead of themselves. “That’s the mistake losers sometimes make: looking too far ahead and not giving importance to what’s right in front of them,” he told IOL.