A star attacker for Esperance de Tunis has revealed how his team were able to overcome Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League, who were given the favourites tag ahead of their semi-final clash.
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Tournament experience shone through for the Blood and Gold as 1-0 wins over Masandawana in Africa's premier club competition over the two-legged affair ensured that they condemned the DStv Premiership to a second successive semi-final elimination.
A goal from Yan Sasse in Rades and one from Raed Bouchniba in Tshwane secured the Tunisian giants' passage to the competition's final for the first time in five years.
On hand to assist Bouchniba at Loftus Versfeld in the second leg was Brazilian striker Rodrigo Rodrigues, who has been speaking about how his team were able to see beyond Sundowns' "favourites" label and go through to face Al Ahly in the final.
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"We knew that expectations were in their favour as Sundowns is a highly qualified team, but we prepared very well and were able to play intelligently in these two matches," the 27-year-old told WinWin Tunisia.
Miguel Cardoso's side will now face the record competition winners, Ahly. It is the first time since the 2017/18 campaign since these two north African juggernauts faced off in the Champions League final.
The second leg will be contested in Cairo, but according to Rodrigues, that is off little concern as Esperance have already contested the final legs of their two previous encounters away from Tunisia.
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"So far in the tournament, we have played all the return matches outside our stadium. This was the case against ASEC Mimosas and Sundowns, and the same will be the case against Al Ahly. I think the most important thing is that we get an advantage and a good result in the first leg," he added.
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