Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is relishing the chance to face Edouard Mendy when his side meet Al Ahli Saudi in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup this Saturday. The match kicks off at 3pm at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, with the winner moving a step closer to a potential final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Williams said he has watched Mendy's career closely and admires his achievements with Senegal, including winning the Africa Cup of Nations. He noted that facing the former Chelsea keeper is a challenge he has not had before. The Sundowns number one also highlighted the quality throughout the Al Ahli squad, which includes international stars like Ivan Toney, Merih Demiral and Roger Ibanez. He called them a team with a lot of experienced, high-quality players, but stressed that his own team is ready for the battle and will give everything to win.
Victory over the back-to-back Asian champions is essential for Sundowns to advance in the tournament. The winner of this match will progress to face the winner of the FIFA Derby of the Americas. Whoever triumphs in that tie will then advance to the Challenger Cup, where a final meeting with European champions PSG awaits.
The Brazilians enter the contest in strong domestic form, sitting first in the Premier Soccer League standings with 20 points from eight games. They are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, a run that includes a 2-1 victory over Al-Ahli Jeddah just last month. Striker Brayan León, who has three goals this season, is set to feature against the Saudi side. The club's confidence is also buoyed by having already secured a place in the MTN8 final.
Williams said starting the season positively was key and the team has done extremely well in both the league and cup competitions. He pointed to the team's defensive solidity, noting they have conceded only 2 goals in 720 minutes of league play this season. Williams concluded by saying the team's depth and quality across the squad gives them belief they can compete on all fronts.
