AS FAR target victory at Loftus to maintain Champions League momentum

The North Africans, who top Group B on nine points, are just one ahead of The Brazilians, who need a draw to secure their spot in the knockout stages, while Raja Casablanca breathe down their necks on five points. 

Benouahi has welcomed the challenge of facing Sundowns in their backyard as they see this as good preparation for the next phase of the competition.

"We are here to win this game, to stay in this winning mentality – that's the most important thing for us, you know how football is, it's not easy to build [up momentum]," said Benouahi.

"And secondly, in this group stage we've only played one game away, and we need this experience – the best experience we can have is to play Mamelodi Sundowns away from our country, it will be a big experience for the next stage.

"And talking about Sundowns, I think everyone knows who Sundowns is – we know how this team always plays to win, and that's why people love this team, even in Morocco people like this team.

"We know they are going to do everything to win, and I think we will make an entertaining game between two big clubs in Africa, and in the end we'll have two big teams winning and losing, or drawing, but it will be two big teams."

Benouahi says they started the campaign top of the group, and they intend finishing in the same position.

"We are already in the quarter-final, and if there's any kind of pressure, it's more in the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns," he added.

"But we know very well how great and big this team is, we know what they've done in the last 10 years all around Africa, and us coming with the ambitions we have – at the beginning of the campaign, we started first in the group and we are aiming to finish first in the group too."

READ: Cardoso: Mamelodi Sundowns won’t play for a draw