The Citizen (Gauteng)

Easy win but Mosimane not happy

- Michaelson Gumede

Winning 3-0 at home and qualifying for the quarterfin­als of the Caf Champions League would usually please any coach, but that was not entirely the case for Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, whose side thumped Lobi Stars 3-0 in Pretoria on Saturday night.

The Brazilians did what they needed to do against the Nigerians and have secured their place in the next round with a game to spare. However, Mosimane believes his side should have scored a few more goals.

“We could’ve been a little shrewd. The score was not a true reflection of the game, we should have done better. This was not a 3-0 game, let’s be honest. We missed opportunit­ies. I am happy with the performanc­e and I am happy we outplayed Lobi Stars and they were chasing shadows but I am not happy with the chances we missed. I am happy that the team won an important match,” said Mosimane.

Masandawan­a have collected maximum points at home in Group A, scoring 3-0 wins over Lobi and Ivorians ASEC Mimosas, as well as edging rivals Wydad Casablanca 2-1. Mosimane is letting his opponents know that visiting the capital city and getting the better of them won’t be easy.

“It is important that teams who come from outside know they can lose here. Teams from West and North Africa know that when they come here they can lose with big margins. We scored three goals against ASEC Mimosas, we scored three against Lobi Stars and we scored two against Wydad Casablanca,” said Mosimane.

He added that beating Lobi was settling the scores between the two countries that have a long history at national team level.

“It is also a national agenda and you know the story of South Africa and Nigeria on who is bigger, so some of those things need to be sorted out. If Bafana Bafana doesn’t sort them out, we hammer three here and we make them chase shadows. The national agenda is important, we must beat the league champions of Nigeria because we are carrying the national flag and bragging rights are important.”

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