'The Wydad syndrome is starting to kick in for Sundowns'

The latest news on Sundowns' first leg African Football League loss to Wydad Casablanca and has sparked some reaction from KickOff's readers.  

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Stories on Sundowns going losing the first leg of the African Football League final and Wydad Casablanca's coach making claims on Masandawana's tactics has seen a host of KO readers flooding the comment section with their views.

Let's take a closer look at what they had to say...

KO Comments

Mamelodi Sundowns went down narrowly to Wydad Casablanca, 2-1, in the first leg of the African Football League final.

Rivaldo Coetzee redirected Montasser Lahtimi's cross into the net, leaving Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams helpless for the opener just before half time.

A VAR review awarded Sundowns a penalty in the 74th minute after a handball by Yahya Jabrane. Moroccan defender Abdelmounaim Boutouil stepped up to take the spot-kick and levelled the score for the visitors, with Wydad restoring their lead four minutes later with a spectacular strike by Anas Serrhat. 

Here's how the readers reacted to the "Sundowns suffer first-leg loss in AFL final" story:

"When I say that Rulani is still an amateur coach, I see tongues wagging. In this game, we saw a coach who knew that the strength of Sundowns is in the talented players and not on good player or game management.

"PSL coaches don't get results from Sundowns because their coaches suffer defeat even before meeting Sundowns," qhpshopk1. 

"I am not sure if is the limitations that come with us having to express our opinions through the Queen's language but you are contradicting yourself a lot here. An amateur coach wouldn't have reached that stage of the competition, would not have broken so many records. An amateur coach would have at least lost by huge margin yesterday.

"An amateur coach was not going to manage such a huge squad of players at Sundowns and keep them at such a high level. Yoh, sometimes the nonsense we write hiding behind keyboards. Yesterday we witnessed football that advertised Africa to the world," replies Mnyakazo. 

"I believe what killed Sundowns is their continued useless possession within their own half (98% between the goal line to the 18-yard line), and think they're 'building from behind'.

"Wydad pressed them mercilessly and they felt the pressure eventually. Had they played like Wydad, always playing forward with intent to at least reach the opponent's goal, they would have played better. I'm sure by the end of the game, Downs had 98% possession once again, which is all negative play," says Danito 4 Life.

"The struggle will continue next Sunday. Wydad relied on their set pieces which were effective in the previous Champions League encounter with Sundowns, who seem to have no solution to this attack. The score could easily have been 3-1.

"Sometimes in South Africa, we do not appreciate Gabuza, a target number 9. You need one sometimes, especially when you under siege. Manchester City has Haaland, so Sundowns needs Shalulile desperately, otherwise you will not win this match," says Fela.

"Firstly, our deepest condolences to the family of Wydad player that passed on, the win should be in his memory. To our boys, we appreciate your efforts, we saw that you're tired but still gave it your all, dust yourselves up and move on. The AFL is yours come next week Sunday," says SkyKBY.

"Wydad will finish off these yellow termites on Sunday," says NickNaks. 

"Last time it was El Mvala who did the lord's work... this time, El Rivaldo said I won't be left behind," says Danito 4 Life.

"Well done boys, we gave them two silly goals, Boutouil, Nku & Allende, those were silly mistakes. I can’t fault Riva, if he left that ball, there was an opponent to score. Let’s be compact at the back, put pure pressure on them, 1-0 is sufficient," says Zebra to hell. 

"Well done Bafana Ba Style, you come back with a vital away goal. We should have lost this match by more than three goals; luck was on our side. This game reminds me when we lost 2-1 against Zesco in Zambia back in 2016, we came back and won by 2-0 at home.

"We can still win this one on Sunday Masandawana, just one goal and a clean sheet to be AFL champions is doable. Let's go in numbers to support the boys on 12 November. Ka bo Yellow Masandawana," says mashanyaselemela. 

"Loftus will be full, my worry is that we don't make it difficult for the opponent like they do. Yesterday was hostile, and we need to do that as well," says tshepo.molotov.

"Sundowns will bounce back. We are Sundowns, the yellow nation must be strong for this one. Our players fought and got their most important goal. Now they have to finish it off for South Africans," says lombosngoepe.

"The Wydad syndrome is starting to kick in for Sundowns," says NickNaks. 

"Mabena has to start on Sunday, as long he does not lose the ball in crucial moments and places, which I think is the deficiency of this the Sundowns set-up.

"Once we lose the ball in crucial moments and places, we are vulnerable to be attacked. Otherwise, we are playing with a very fit and clever team," says winterv.me. 

"The only redeeming factor is that crucial goal Sundowns scored," says The Ghost.

"I thought the person that was vulnerable was Boutouil. They overloaded his side having identified his lack of pace. Rulani should have rectified this early on by asking Maseko to drop back," says Sva2022. 

After their 2-1 victory over Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca head coach Adil Ramzi said he after the first leg that he noticed Masandawana employed different tactics.

Ramzi accused Sundowns of time-wasting, mentioning that Rulani's men followed methods that were unfamiliar to them like consistently protesting to the referee and not returning the ball.

The former PSV Eindhoven youth coach expects greater ferocity from them on their home patch and that his team is ready for all scenarios.

Here's how the readers reacted to the "Wydad boss makes big Downs claim after AFL final 1st-leg win" story:

"Here we go again. People having no respect for the opponent. Winning the game before it's even played. Is this not the same team that drew 0-0 with Downs in the away encounter in the Champions League?

"We were told back then, just like now, that it was going to be stroll in the park in the second leg. Alas, guess what happened?" says gsithole.

"This guy is lying. He's terrified of Downs as he should be. We're going to bleksem them on Sunday," says INBOX VAT ALLES. 

"Wow, I was happy with Zungu's performance, the real Ben 10 is back and again this Wydad coach plays mind games. He wants to tell us not to do exactly what he was doing, the was a time the ball was out and instead of him giving Mudau the ball, he chose to throw it away. 

"I know Downs will score early at Loftus and we are going to win this second leg, with the goal coming from Sirino," says Tekenya wale downs. 

"Bad officiating from the referee. The player who conceded the penalty was supposed to get a red card. Many bad tackles going against Sundowns," says tekhens. 

"I was surprised we even got a penalty. You never get one against the North Africans," says Sva2022.

"But honestly, the referee was good for 80% of the time, unlike that one from the Ah Ahly game," says Tekenya wale downs. 

"Wydad should have gotten a red card. Why can't you punish a player twice for giving away a penalty?" asks Fela. 

"Stop, y'all are now used to getting every decision going your way locally and now you expect it to happen in African competitions as well?

"You are becoming like the Chiefs fans, who expect officials to blow their way every time. Penalty was given and it’s not like it was a Zungu type of tackle on Parker, red card for what?" replies Lesoganatsoko.