Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has issued a stern warning to Raja Casablanca and AS FAR Rabat after his side dropped points again in the CAF Champions League.
The Betway Premiership champions are yet to taste victory in the Champions League group stages so far, leaving them with work to do to secure qualification to the next round.
They were held to a 1-1 draw by Rabat at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in Morocco on Saturday evening. This followed a 0-0 draw against Maniema Union in their opening match.
Mngqithi says their next match against Raja will be “another chapter”, promising a tough task for the Moroccan champions when they visit South Africa next Sunday, 15 December, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
SUNDOWNS TO AIM FOR MAXIMUM POINTS AGAINST RAJA CASABLANCA
“It’s another chapter that we have to look at very closely,” said Mngqithi. “But all I can tell you is that at home, it’s always going to be difficult for any other opponents that play against us.
“At this stage, we have to try to win our matches. And I think we have put ourselves in a very good position.
“And probably fortunate that in the Raja versus Maniema game, there was a draw because I think that puts us in a very good position in the group. One would have loved to have collected six points by now.
“But unfortunately, in football, you must accept. I’m very happy with how my players performed. And I think at home it should be even better.”
Mngqithi further asserted that, despite the dropped points, their performance away to Rabat was commendable. He expressed confidence that Hubert Velud’s side will have a challenging trip in round two in front of the Yellow Nation in Pretoria. The two teams will face off again on 17 January 2025.
‘THAT’S A PROMISE I CAN KEEP’ – MANQOBA MNGQITHI’S MESSAGE TO AS FAR RABAT
“It will be very different. It’s a promise I can keep. It will be very different,” added Mngqithi.
“If we could play the way we played against them with all their supporters, making very good noise, I must say, I liked the atmosphere in the stadium. And I think in Pretoria it will be good.”
RELATED STORY: Clayton Daniels highlights similarities in form of Sundowns and Real Madrid