Sundowns’ New Signing Faces One Delay Before His CAF Champions League Debut

Mamelodi Sundowns’ latest recruit, Lazola Maku, will have to be patient before making his debut in the CAF Champions League. However, the young midfielder could feature in the group stages if the Tshwane-based club successfully qualifies for the next round.

Sundowns recently confirmed Maku’s arrival as a free agent, strengthening their midfield options. Despite joining the South African giants, the timing of his signing means he will not be eligible to play in Friday’s second-leg preliminary-round clash against Angolan outfit Wiliete SC.

Nevertheless, Maku could still get an opportunity to represent Sundowns in the continental competition. The third player-registration window for the group stages opened on October 1 and is scheduled to close at the end of October. Sundowns can register the midfielder for the next phase if they qualify and complete the necessary procedures.

The Champions League group stages are expected to begin in November and continue until January 2027. According to the competition regulations outlined in the report, players must be registered at least 72 hours before a match to be eligible, while clubs are permitted to register a maximum of 40 players throughout the season.

However, securing registration will not guarantee Maku regular playing time. Sundowns have several experienced and talented midfielders, meaning the youngster must convince the technical team that he deserves an opportunity.

His experience with South Africa’s junior national teams could work in his favour. Maku has been involved in squads that won the COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championship and the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, his arrival comes as Marcelo Allende has indicated that the current campaign will be his last at Sundowns, potentially creating uncertainty about the club’s future midfield plans.

Although Maku has not been confirmed as Allende’s replacement, he has an opportunity to establish himself at one of the country’s biggest clubs. Qualification for the Champions League group stages could provide his first chance to showcase his talent on the continental stage.

https://x.com/soccer_laduma/status/2112624987026637059?s=46

Asabi001 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com