Why it is difficult for North Africans to contain SA teams

Al-Ahli Saudi coach Pitso Mosimane has explained why it has been difficult for North Africans to contain South African teams in the 2023 edition of the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Marumo Gallants breezed through the group stage phase of their respective inter-club competitions, convincingly beating North African teams.

Over the years, North African clubs have dominated CAF competitions, while South African sides lagged behind.

NORTH AFRICAN TEAMS HAVE DOMINATED

The African club football’s top prize has not left the North African region in the last six seasons.

Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca won the Champions League in 2017 and 2022. Egyptian giants, under Pitso Mosimane, clinched the title in 2020 and 2021. Esperance of Tunisia were crowned winners in 2018 and 2019.

Sundowns are the last SA team to claim continental glory in 2016 with Mosimane in charge.

And with two SA sides in the semi-finals of CAF competitions, Sundowns [Champions League] and Gallants [Confed Cup], Mosimane has attributed the teams’ success to their ‘style of play’.

MOSIMANE EXPLAINS WHY SA TEAMS HAVE PROGRESSED

“SA football style of play is just awkward for North African teams, especially when the teams play with controlled arrogance and confidence,” tweeted Mosimane.

Mosimane’s former team, Sundowns, made light of their Algerian opponents CR Belouizdad to book a place in the Champions League semi-final with a 2-1 win at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Tshwane giants advanced on a 6-2 aggregate, beating CR Belouizdad  4-1 in the first leg away from home. On top of that, Rulani Mokwena’s men hammered Al Ahly 5-2 last month at home.

Meanwhile, Gallants secured a spot in the last four of the Confed Cup for the first time following a 1-0 victory over Pyramids of Egypt in the second leg of the quarter-finals at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday evening.

The first-leg encounter between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw in Cairo last week.

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAYS BY SUNDOWNS AND MARUMO

Another North African side that Gallants got the better of is USM Alger, as they walked away 2-0 comfortable winners last month in a home group stage game.

With such impressive displays by Sundowns and Gallants on the continent, Mosimane is confident that a South African side will claim glory.

The closest in recent years a South African team came to winning an inter-club competition was in 2022 when Orlando Pirates lost against Morocco’s RS Berkane on penalties.  

“SA teams have won continental trophies before and will continue to do so,” added Mosimane.

“Anybody underestimating them will be at their own peril. They won’t stop surprising. Viva SA football.

“SA teams do lose some games, and it is normal in football, but now is the time that there should be an understanding and belief that it is doable. 2023 is the Year.”

RELATED STORY: Marumo Gallants book historic CAF Confed Cup semi-final place