Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are tasked with chasing down the best team in the world in Premier League leaders Arsenal as he launched a defiant defence of his players after a chastening week.
An unbeaten start sets up a tense Champions League night as Sundowns host Al Hilal in Pretoria.
Michael Carrick has the chance to make a fine first impression to his short-term stint as Manchester United manager by derailing local rivals Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero with two saves in the shoot-out as hosts Morocco beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to set up an Africa Cup of Nations final showdown this weekend with Senegal after a tense last-four clash on Wednesday finished 0-0 at the end of extra time.
Big-money signing Antoine Semenyo believes he is in the perfect place to thrive after scoring in each of his first two games for Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Arsenal wasted the chance to move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as Liverpool came to life in a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
An all-West African knockout awaits as Ivory Coast face Burkina Faso with a place in the AFCON quarterfinals on the line.
Bafana Bafana will face five-time Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) champions Cameroon in the Round of 16 at Agdal Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday.
South Africa need one result to advance, but disciplined Zimbabwe promise a tight, tactical Group B finale with qualification hanging in the balance.