Brian Mandela’s coach makes bold Mamelodi Sundowns promise after Champions League exit

© Mamelodi Sundowns

CAF CL Brian Mandela’s coach makes bold Mamelodi Sundowns promise after Champions League exit

Kiplagat Sang • 17:18 - 22.05.2023

The South African giants conceded a late goal that sealed their fate in the competition.

Brian Mandela’s head coach Rhulani Mokwena has made a bold promise after their elimination from the CAF Champions League by Wydad Casablanca.

At home, Masandawana were held to a 2-2 draw by the reigning champions, who progressed courtesy of the away goal rule.

They went ahead twice, only for Mothobi Mvala’s late own goal to hand the advantage to the Moroccan giants. Mandela was, however, not involved in the four-goal thriller.

"We will continue with this dream, and we will win the [CAF] Champions League," Mokwena told reporters after the highly charged match at Loftus Versefeld Stadium on Saturday.

"It might not be this season; of course, it might not be next season, but eventually, we’ll win the Champions League.

"We will win it playing the way the club, its supporters, and its culture play because if you change the style of play, we take out quite a lot of what speaks to this club."

"For sure, next season, we will be stronger. We haven’t been in the semi-final for the last three years of a very important and very difficult competition."

Sundowns will feel hurt for exiting at the penultimate stage, even after going through the competition unbeaten.

"I’m extremely proud of the players, and I’m proud of the effort," he added.

"In a very difficult competition, we finished unbeaten against some strong opponents. But there is an element of disappointment. We will go again and try to make this dream a reality."

The Tshwane giants will, however, feel consoled after winning the Premier Soccer League title for the sixth time in a row.