{"id":41629,"date":"2026-09-16T13:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T11:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=41629"},"modified":"2026-09-16T13:25:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T11:25:03","slug":"mamelodi-sundowns-vs-al-ahli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mamelodi-sundowns-vs-al-ahli\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamelodi Sundowns vs Al Ahli: Ronwen Williams Eyes PSG Final but Warns of Tough First (1) Test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says his team must overcome Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane on Saturday, 19 September 2026, before considering a possible FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain. The African and Asian champions will meet in a knockout fixture that could move Sundowns closer to facing the European champions. Williams said the immediate priority is beating Al Ahli, whose attacking players threaten Sundowns&#8217; ambitions.<\/p><div id=\"gaute-4025892966\" class=\"gaute-after-paragraph-1 gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to the Sundowns media team, Williams described the upcoming encounter as an opportunity for the club to progress in a competition featuring six continental champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bafana Bafana goalkeeper also warned that his teammates must make the most of their scoring opportunities against opponents capable of punishing mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/springboks-win-rivalry-series\/\"><strong>ALSO READ: Springboks Beat All Blacks 3 1 to Win Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry Series<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sundowns face Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sundowns will host Al Ahli on Saturday afternoon in a fixture that brings together the reigning African and Asian club champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pretoria club qualified for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after winning the CAF Champions League last season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Al Ahli secured their place in the upcoming encounter after defeating New Zealand side Auckland FC in their previous match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The competition features six continental champions, with Paris Saint Germain receiving direct entry into the final as the European representative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Sundowns, however, reaching that stage requires them to progress through two rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first obstacle is Al Ahli, who arrive in Pretoria with the opportunity to continue their own pursuit of the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-122-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-122-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-122-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-122-150x187.png 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-122-450x562.png 450w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-122.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/backley.dube\/posts\/-%F0%9D%90%82%F0%9D%90%8E%F0%9D%90%8D%F0%9D%90%85%F0%9D%90%88%F0%9D%90%91%F0%9D%90%8C%F0%9D%90%84%F0%9D%90%83-the-game-between-mamelodi-sundowns-fc-vs-al-ahli-will-be-live-on-ss20\/1649406197061293\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ronwen Williams sets sights on possible PSG final<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams acknowledged the prospect of facing Paris Saint Germain but emphasised that Sundowns cannot overlook their next opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking to the club&#8217;s media team, the goalkeeper said the match against Al Ahli would bring together two continental champions in a contest where only one side can advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He described a potential meeting with the European champions as the ultimate objective, while stressing that the immediate focus remains on Saturday&#8217;s fixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His comments underline the challenge facing Sundowns as they attempt to progress through the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The club cannot reach the final through the Al Ahli match alone. A victory would move Sundowns into the next stage, where another result would be required to secure a place in the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2174023144\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Williams warns Sundowns about Al Ahli attackers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams identified Al Ahli&#8217;s attacking players as a significant consideration ahead of the encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goalkeeper specifically mentioned Ivan Toney and Francisco Trinc\u00e3o when discussing the opposition&#8217;s ability to convert scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Williams, matches at this level often provide limited chances, making finishing an important part of the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He drew on his experience in the FIFA Club World Cup and CAF Champions League to explain why Sundowns must be effective in front of goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goalkeeper warned that failing to convert opportunities could prove costly against a team with dangerous attacking players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His assessment also places responsibility on Sundowns&#8217; defensive organisation, with the team needing to remain alert whenever Al Ahli move into attacking positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why finishing could influence the Sundowns match<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The encounter will be decided through a knockout format, leaving little room for either team to recover from a defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams expects an open contest between two teams that earned qualification through their respective continental competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His comments suggest that Sundowns are preparing for a match in which both sides will look to create opportunities rather than simply protect their defensive positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the goalkeeper believes that converting chances will be particularly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sundowns have experience competing against international opposition, having participated in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That experience provides context for Williams&#8217; comments about the demands of matches against clubs from other continents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goalkeeper has urged his teammates to apply lessons from previous international competitions when they face Al Ahli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2174023144\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Teboho Mokoena could attract attention from Al Ahli<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams also believes Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena will be among the players attracting attention from the Saudi Arabian side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mokoena has represented South Africa and Sundowns in major international competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Club World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams pointed to the midfielder&#8217;s ability to contribute goals from midfield as one reason opponents may pay particular attention to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said Al Ahli&#8217;s media discussions had already included references to Mokoena ahead of the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goalkeeper expects the midfielder&#8217;s record in major competitions to make him an important consideration in Al Ahli&#8217;s preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Sundowns, Mokoena&#8217;s involvement could be significant as the team looks to compete in midfield and create opportunities against the Asian champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is at stake in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The FIFA Intercontinental Cup brings together clubs that have won their respective continental competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sundowns qualified as African champions, while Al Ahli enter the encounter as Asian champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paris Saint Germain, who won the UEFA Champions League, have been placed directly into the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The structure means Sundowns must win two matches before they can face the French club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saturday&#8217;s encounter therefore represents the first step in the Pretoria side&#8217;s attempt to reach the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A defeat would end Sundowns&#8217; participation, while victory would allow them to continue in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The match also gives Sundowns an opportunity to compete against another continental champion in front of their home supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means for Gauteng Residents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The match brings an international club football fixture to Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, placing Tshwane at the centre of Sundowns&#8217; FIFA Intercontinental Cup campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gauteng football supporters will have an opportunity to watch the African champions compete against Al Ahli in a knockout encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fixture also gives local supporters a chance to see Sundowns players, including Williams and Mokoena, compete against opposition from another continental competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supporters planning to attend should consult official club and ticketing channels for confirmed match arrangements, entry requirements and transport information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result will determine whether Sundowns progress to the next stage of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2174023144\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When is Mamelodi Sundowns playing Al Ahli?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mamelodi Sundowns are scheduled to face Al Ahli on Saturday, 19 September 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where will Sundowns vs Al Ahli take place?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The match will be played at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, Gauteng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are Sundowns playing Al Ahli?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both teams qualified for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup after winning their respective continental club competitions. Sundowns are the African champions, while Al Ahli are the Asian champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will Sundowns play PSG if they beat Al Ahli?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not immediately. Sundowns must progress through two rounds to reach the final against Paris Saint Germain. Beating Al Ahli would move them into the next stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What did Ronwen Williams say about the match?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams said Sundowns are excited about the prospect of reaching the final but must focus on Al Ahli first. He also warned that the team needs to convert its chances and remain alert to the opposition&#8217;s attacking players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sundowns must clear Al Ahli hurdle before thinking about PSG<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams has made it clear that the possibility of facing Paris Saint Germain is an objective rather than an immediate concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sundowns must first defeat Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to keep their FIFA Intercontinental Cup campaign alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goalkeeper&#8217;s message centres on taking scoring opportunities, limiting the threat posed by Al Ahli&#8217;s attackers and maintaining focus on the next match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the African champions, the route to a possible meeting with PSG begins in Pretoria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams says his team must overcome Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane on Saturday, 19 September 2026, before considering a possible FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain. The African and Asian champions will meet in a knockout fixture that could move Sundowns closer to facing the European champions. Williams said the immediate priority is beating Al Ahli, whose attacking players threaten Sundowns&#8217; ambitions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":41635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"mamelodi sundowns,ronwen williams,loftus,FIFA","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[11849,360,11850],"ppma_author":[11575],"class_list":["post-41629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-al-ahli","tag-mamelodi-sundowns","tag-ronwen-williams"],"authors":[{"term_id":11575,"user_id":23,"is_guest":0,"slug":"nomthandazo","display_name":"Nomthandazo Ntisa","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ec3262463e8ed5ea26dca074ed7eff95ffede057639be73a77f7896ccd06170f?s=96&r=g","author_category":"1","first_name":"Nomthandazo","last_name":"Ntisa","user_url":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/","job_title":"Content Editor","description":"Nomthandazo Ntisa is a journalist and Content Editor at What's On G with more than six years of experience in journalism, digital publishing, and content strategy. She covers the people, places, events, and issues shaping Gauteng \u2014 producing stories that help readers understand and connect with life across the province."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41629"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41636,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41629\/revisions\/41636"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41629"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=41629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}