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Mokwena plots Sundowns’ path to end North African dominance in CAF CL

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has spelt out his team’s approach to challenging the historic dominance of North African clubs in the CAF Champions League.

Since Sundowns’ triumph in the 2016 Champions League under the guidance of Pitso Mosimane, North African teams have dominated the competition.

Egyptian giants Al-Ahly claimed the title a staggering three times, while Wydad Casablanca from Morocco secured it twice. Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis won the other two Champions League titles.

This streak means all seven Champions League titles awarded since Sundowns’ triumph have been won by teams from North Africa. But Mokwena is determined to challenge North Africa’s grip on the trophy.

Sundowns tactician Mokwena set his sights on making the Champions League semi-finals and finals a regular occurrence for the team. He believes this is crucial to breaking the stranglehold of North African clubs on the trophy.

Mokwena was speaking ahead of their CAF Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash against Young Africans.

Sundowns will welcome the Tanzanian giants at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday, 5 April 2024. The kick-off is set for 20:00.

Bafana Ba Style were held to a goalless draw by Yanga away from home in Tanzania last Saturday. Football fanatics will be expecting fireworks during the decisive second-leg encounter in Tshwane, as the two teams are gunning for a spot in the semi-finals.

CAF Champions League quarter-final clash between Yanga and Rulani Mokwena's Mamelodi Sundowns.
CAF Champions League quarter-final clash between Yanga and Mamelodi Sundowns

RULANI MOKWENA ON HOW MAMELODI SUNDOWNS CAN BREAK THE NORTH AFRICANS DOMINANCE

“I told the players at the beginning of the season that it doesn’t make sense to think about winning the Champions League if you are not consistently in the semi-finals or finals. [The aim] is to break the monopoly of the North African teams,” said Mokwena.

“I mean, this is what they consistently do. They put their names in situations where they will be able to compete for the prize and the trophy. So, our focus has to be that every season, we have to be in the semi-finals and the finals and try to break down that dominance.

“We have to push ourselves and be regular features in the semi-finals and finals of the Champions League or whichever competition comes up. When you put yourself in those positions, you may as well go all out, you know.”

Mokwena continued: “So, the focus has to be step by step…and have wild statistics like eight semi-finals or eight finals like Wydad and Al Ahly in a couple of past years. That’s why they win most of them.”

‘THE AMBITION TO WIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS NOTHING BUT A DREAM’

Mokwena went on to state that they are not obsessed with winning the Champions League, but the aim is to continue putting in a good fight to produce fruitful results.

“…The ambition to win the Champions League is nothing but a dream, a positive one. It can never be an obsession because it then derives you to a darker space.

“So, we continue to dream and work very hard to please the fans. Also, make them happy, and also to reward ourselves because we work very hard. That’s the mentality we have right now. We go game by game, but we also know that we are not doing it for ourselves.”

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