Al-Ahli defender Zakaria Hawsawi: Tough Sundowns clash ahead, but we are ready to win

Al-Ahli defender Zakaria Hawsawi has acknowledged the difficulty of his team's upcoming clash against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, set to take place on Saturday.

Saudi and Arab football fans are eagerly anticipating the high-stakes encounter at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where Al-Ahli will face Sundowns in the second leg of the continental knockout stage.

Speaking exclusively to Ajel, Hawsawi said: “We are facing a tough match against Sundowns, and we are determined to give our all away from home. We fully understand the responsibility on our shoulders to achieve a positive result that reflects the stature of Al-Ahli and meets the expectations of our fans.”

He added, “Playing in South Africa is a completely new experience for us. Although we have never played here before, the atmosphere is ideal. Everything is set for us to deliver a strong performance, secure victory, and continue our successful run in the tournament.”

Al-Ahli heads into the match aiming to achieve a new milestone on the continental stage, seeking a positive away result that would secure qualification and demonstrate the team’s high level of readiness to compete for major titles this season.