Pitso takes CAF loss on the chin
Downs coach says Moroccans were negative
Pitso Mosimane regrets that the best team did not progress to the CAF Champions League semifinal following Mamelodi Sundowns’ elimination by Wydad Casablanca.
Sundowns were knocked out of the prestigious African inter-club competition at the weekend via a penalty shootout by the Moroccans.
With the tie ending 1-1 on aggregate over two legs, the north Africans eliminated the defending champions with a 3-2 win on penalties at the Prince Abdellah Stadium.
With the South Africans having bagged a 1-0 home win in the first leg via a Yannick Zakri goal, Wydad replicated that result as Salah Eddine Saidi scored in the second leg.
The reigning CAF Coach of the Year felt his team could have killed off the quarterfinal tie in the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
“The linesman said offside three times [in the first leg] when we were one on one with the goalkeeper,” Mosimane said.
“We would have scored three goals. Unfortunately, in football anyone can win penalties. But we have to congratulate Wydad. In Pretoria Wydad never crossed the line and I came here to attack again, unless we saw a different game.”
The Brazillians had put their necks on the block in anticipation of their passage to the last four. The club had arranged visas and made travel bookings hoping they would win and set up a semifinal clash with USM Alger in Algeria on Friday.
Mosimane took a dig at Wydad for their football philosophy, with most clubs in Arab-Africa notorious for their defensive approach.
“At least we showed you we want to play, we are not afraid. We pressed and were not scared to lose. I think we played very well and we came here not to sit back, we came to attack.
“We just saw that they could not take the stress level and we played in their half and we put them under pressure.”
Sundowns will now focus on domestic competitions as they face Platinum Stars in the Absa Premiership on Sunday.
Champions League semifinal fixtures:
Wydad v USM Alger (Friday) Etoile du Sahel v Al Ahly (Sunday)