Esperance star: We'll try to decide it in the first leg vs Downs

An Esperance star has insisted they will try to decide their CAF Champions League semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg .

The Brazilians are preparing to take on four-time winners Esperance in the semi-finals of the competition in a two-legged tie, the first of which will be played on Saturday at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.

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Reports have claimed that the Tunisian giants have changed their usual approach to games by spending the week leading up to the big encounter training behind closed doors. 

Defender Yassine Meriah has revealed that while he may believe the clash will be an exciting one, his side have nothing but progressing to the final in their sights. 

"Esperance will play the match realistically, and will try to decide it from the first leg, in order to move to South Africa with high morale," he said on Radio Mosaique, per Kooora.

"Esperance players are not thinking about the 2025 Club World Cup, and the focus is only on facing Sundowns and running for the CAF Champions League final."

The Blood and Gold will be determined to overcome the challenge posed by Rulani Mokwena and his men, after last tasting continental glory in 2019.

It is a sentiment expressed by club manager Miguel Cardoso, who revealed how assured he is in his team to get the job done. 

"I'm confident that we have the resources to achieve great things. We need to stay focused, stay together and give our best in every game," he said per africanfootball.com.

"If we do that, we will be difficult to stop."

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