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JOHANNESBURG. — Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa can continue an amazing four-month transition from flops to tops if they avoid defeat at home to Zamalek of Egypt today in the CAF Champions League. A point at Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium near Pretoria will suffice to seal first place in Group B and take the South African side to the semi-finals of the premier African club football competition. It will also complete a remarkable turnaround for Sundowns, who were eliminated in the final qualifying round for the Champions League last April by V Club from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Demoted to the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, Sundowns, whose star players is Zimbabwean attacking midfielder Khama Billiat, were beaten by Medeama of Ghana in a play-off to suffer further African disappointment.

But on the eve of June draw for the Champions League groups, the organisers kicked out V Club for using a banned player and Sundowns were reinstated. Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane hastily cancelled plans to watch the Copa America centenary edition in the United States and his squad had to abandon holidays with families and friends.

Given a third chance to succeed in Africa, Sundowns shocked Entente Setif in Algeria only to have the 2-0 win scrapped when the losers were disqualified over a pitch invasion. Undismayed, Sundowns beat twice African champions Enyimba of Nigeria near Pretoria and five-time African champions Zamalek in Cairo to build a three-point lead halfway through the group stage. — AFP.