Rulani Mokwena has rejected any suggestion that Mamelodi Sundowns are the favourites to win this season’s Champions League, even though a depleted Masandawana managed to hold Wydad Casablanca to a goalless draw in the first leg of their semifinal on Saturday at the Stade Mohammed V.
Many are calling Sundowns favourites to win this season’s competition after their impressive performances up to now, but the Sundowns head coach was having none of it in the post match press conference.
“You only have to watch the game last night (Al Ahly won 3-0 at Esperance in the other semifinal, first leg),” said Mokwena.
“They call it football heritage. A lot of clubs have won the Champions League more than us (no one has won more Champions League titles than Ahly) and they have a lot more pressure than us to win the Champions League every single year.
“Wydad are the defending champions who have reached seven out of the last eight semifinals, we just have to do the best we can, fight, play well, do our best to represent the football club, and enjoy the opportunity, which we know doesn’t come for everyone.”
Still, the return leg will take place in Tshwane at Loftus Stadium on Saturday and Masandawana will surely be confident of victory, especially if they can keep their full complement of eleven players on the pitch.
Sundowns’ near miss
Sundowns were competing well against Wydad in front of a hostile home crowd, and even had a goal ruled out when Peter Shalulile scored, but replays showed his foot was inches offside.
The pattern of the game turned two minutes before half time, when Neo Maema was shown a straight red card. The Sundowns man leapt to avoid a challenge from Amine Aboulfath, and landed on the Wydad midfielder. After consulting VAR, referee Daniel Nii Laryea opted to send Maema off.
After that, Sundowns deployed a more defensive strategy and Ronwen Williams was forced into a couple of fine saves, but Sven Vanderbroek’s Wydad couldn’t find a way past a well-organised Masandawana.
Sundowns also had Marcello Allende sent off in stoppage time for a poor tackle, and both he and Maema will be suspended for the second leg, but Mokwena’s side should have the squad depth to be able to cope.
Kick off in the return leg on Saturday is 3pm.