File photo: Ahly s Swiss coach Marcel Koller. AFP
"I am confident in the players' concentration for the game against Sundowns," Koller stated during the pre-game press conference on Saturday.
This will be the second encounter for the Swiss coach against Mamelodi Sundowns, having previously suffered a 5-2 loss to the South African team during the group stage of the African Champions League last March.
"I am pleased to be here in South Africa for the second time. I have learned from the previous game, but tomorrow is a new match," Koller added.
"I don't dwell on the past; my focus is always on the future. Therefore, I don't think much about the previous game against Sundowns," he emphasized.
Anticipating tomorrow's game, Koller expressed his optimism, stating, "I look forward to tomorrow's match, and I am confident that we will deliver a strong performance."
The AFL, introduced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in collaboration with FIFA, features eight teams from across the continent, including TP Mazembe from DR Congo, Esperance from Tunisia, Enyimba from Nigeria, and Wydad from Morocco.
The AFL title holder will receive a reward of $4 million, the highest prize in continental club competitions.
"While I acknowledge Sundowns' talented squad, we have arrived here as the African champions, competing against the best teams on the continent," Koller remarked.
"We will give our all to achieve a positive result tomorrow," concluded Ahly's coach.
Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns have faced each other 14 times in the African Champions League, with the Red Devils claiming five victories, suffering four defeats, and drawing in five matches.
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