Mokwena Reacts To CAFCL Draw

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has reacted drawing CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals, saying they will face a very difficult clash.

Masandawana, who have made winning their second CAFCL trophy their top priority, were drawn against the leaders from the Algerian Ligue 1, who finished second in group D behind Esperance Tunis.

Should Masandawana advance, they will face the winners of defending champions, Wydad Athletic Club and Simba SC in the semi-final.

Even though the game is still 15 games away, Mokwena reacted to the draw, insisting it will not be an easy clash against a side that has only conceded twice in the group stages.

“It’s a draw that we accept with a lot of humility, but also a clear understanding that it’s going to be very, very difficult,” he told the club’s media team.

“Belouizdad are very good side, even though they finished second in their group with 10 points. But they’ve had a very, very good campaign.

“And both in the Champions League and in the domestic league, where they they sit number one, and even though they’ve played only 17 games, but the gap between number one and number two is maybe a little bit of a story that is similar to ours, where there’s a big gap of around 13 points between the two, the number one and number two.

“They’ve had they have very, very good players. They play also something very similar to a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 with a strong powerful Nigerian striker up front [Anayo] Iwuala and [Mohamed Islam] Belkhir their top goal scorer on five goals.

“So interesting side with very good tactical formations and the structures.”

Mokwena also revealed that Downs will send an advance team to Algeria to help with the preparations in the country ahead of their official travel with the players.

“And something that we know that of course going to Algeria is going to be very, very difficult, particularly with the traveling and trying to map our way between the domestic fixtures.

“We have Nedbank Cup, just before we have to trave. So a lot of work for our management team and the advance traveling party.

– Advertisement –

“But of course they’ve got a lot of experience and we trust them to assist us a lot with the preparation.”

Sundowns faced Belouizdad in the 2021 CAFCL group stages when they beat them 5-1 in Algiers, but last their final match 2-0 at home when they were already qualified for the knockout stages.

Belouizdad will host Sundowns in Algiers on 24 April, while the return fixture takes place on 28 April at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.