The CAF Champions League match took place between Mamelodi Sundowns and Young Africans SC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Lucas Costa of Mamelodi Sundowns was seen in action with Stephane Aziz Ki of Young Africans SC during the match. Costa’s contract in Tanzania is set to expire at the end of the current season in June. According to sources, scouts from Pirates had been monitoring Lucas Costa’s performance even before he played in South Africa.
They traveled to Tanzania and also watched him play at Loftus Stadium in the return leg. The scouts were impressed with his qualities and are interested in signing him, along with other players like Patrick Maswanganyi and Rele Mofokeng. Reports suggest that Pirates have offered Costa a pre-season contract, with the potential for a three-year deal and a one-year option. However, it is still in the early stages, and the move is pending further developments.
As Costa’s contract with Young Africans is set to end on June 30, it is unclear whether the club will extend his contract. The 28-year-old Burkinabe has been a valuable player for Yanga, having scored two goals and provided two assists in the 12 Champions League games he played this season. Notably, Aziz Ki’s controversial strike in a match against Sundowns generated headlines. Despite initial confusion, the VAR upheld the referee’s decision of ‘no goal,’ ultimately favoring Sundowns.
Following a 0-0 draw after two legs, Mamelodi Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals ahead of Yanga after a penalty shootout. Soccer Laduma attempted to contact Pirates for a comment on the potential signing of Lucas Costa, but no response was received at the time of publication.