Rabat: After Mamelodi Sundowns edged AS FAR 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final 1st leg in Pretoria, coaches Miguel Cardoso and Alexandre Santos agreed that the tie remains wide open ahead of the decisive return leg in Rabat on May 24.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, speaking at a press conference after the match, Morocco’s coach Santos stressed the need to quickly move past the defeat and rely on the support of their home fans to mount a comeback. He was confident in his squad’s ability to recover and come back stronger. He explained that his team came closest to opening the scoring in the first half, particularly between the 20th and 40th minutes, thanks to strong attacking pressure. However, he acknowledged several mistakes, especially leaving spaces that the opposing team exploited effectively.
“Our playing philosophy is clear and based on taking the initiative, but in this kind of major occasion, strength lies in the ability to maintain balance throughout the match.”
Head coach Cardoso described the South African narrow victory as an important morale boost rather than a decisive result. The match’s only goal was scored by South African international full-back Aubrey Modiba in the 37th minute from a set piece taken from approximately 30 meters away from the goal defended by Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti of AS FAR.
Cardoso highlighted his team’s ability to score “at any moment and on any ground,” a trait he said they share with AS FAR, “which also demonstrated strong attacking organization.” “In the return leg, our focus will be on preserving our football identity and our usual style of play, while showing greater respect to AS FAR, which has proven to be a formidable opponent with the qualities of a champion,” he added.
He also called on the video assistant referee (VAR) officiating teams to provide a professional standard that matches the progress of African football, referring to the interruption at the start of the second half caused by a technical issue related to VAR. On the other hand, he praised the scenes of fair play and the exchanges of greetings between players from both teams after the final whistle, saying that such exemplary behavior is what makes the African continent proud of its footballing and sporting achievements in the eyes of the world.