FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Williams Confident Sundowns Can Match Al-Ahli’s Experience

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Ronwen Williams (GK), Captain of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Betway Premiership 2026/27 match between Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on 6 September 2026 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is expecting a tough test when they come up against the star-studded Al-Ahli side in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

The Brazilians are set to welcome the Saudi outfit to Loftus Versfeld when they meet in their opening match of the competition.

Miguel Cardoso’s side earned their qualification to this competition after they were crowned CAF Champions League champions for the second time in the club’s history.

Williams is expecting a stern test against Al-Ahli, acknowledging the quality and experience within the reigning back-to-back Asian champions’ squad.

“I mean, they are back-to-back Asian champions, so our work will be cut out for us,” Williams told his club’s media department.

“If you look at their team, there are so many guys who were at the World Cup, (Merih Demiral) Turkey, (Roger Ibanez) Brazil, Ivan Toney (England), and Edouard Mendy, someone I know quite well having watched his career and seen him achieve many things with Senegal.

“So it will be good to finally face him as I have not had the opportunity to play against him. It’s a team with a lot of experienced, high-quality players.

“It’s going to be a good one, because if you look at our side, I think we have a number of players who were at the World Cup. We just need to prepare well.”