Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has warned against underestimating their CAF Champions League group opponents, citing the example of Bafana Bafana’s shock defeat to Mauritania in their failed AFCON qualification bid.
Sundowns have been drawn in Group A of the CAF Champions League alongside Pyramids of Egypt, TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo and FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania.
Mokwena cautioned against taking Nouadhibou lightly, especially having to travel to Mauritania, as he recounted how their national team made things difficult for Bafana after beating them 3-1 at home and drawing 1-1 in Mbombela in the return fixture.
“Good draw, competitive, very difficult, some difficult teams, Mazembe tough, we go to Congo, we go to Mauritania, we go to Egypt, Pyramids also tough,” Mokwena said at the Carling Knockout Cup launch.
“I watched them (Pyramids) play against Al Ahly in the Cup, very difficult team and the Mauritania trip will be tough because you know even with Bafana, the last time we played against Mauritania as a national team we lost 3-1 and we struggled to even beat them in the previous fixture, playing 1-1.”
“So it’s going to be very difficult but yeah, a competitive fixture, difficult tournament but we’ll do our best to make sure we’re ready and well prepared for an important competition for the football club,” he added
Mokwena’s warning comes as a reminder of the importance of not underestimating any opponent, no matter how small they may seem. His words of caution come after Bafana Bafana’s shock defeat to Mauritania in 2017, which resulted in their failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
The first round of the CAF Champions League group stage fixtures are scheduled for 24-25 November 2023.
