MC Alger's head coach, Rulani Mokwena, recently shared his reflections on a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Al-Hilal Omdurman in the CAF Champions League. This crucial win propelled his team into second place in Group C. While celebrating the success, Mokwena also highlighted his team's struggle with converting scoring chances. Notably, he remained evasive when questioned about the highly anticipated clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, indicating his focus on the current achievement rather than future challenges.
MC Alger Secures Vital Win Against Al-Hilal, Mokwena Ponders Future Encounters
In a significant CAF Champions League Group C encounter on a recent Friday, MC Alger, under the guidance of head coach Rulani Mokwena, emerged victorious with a challenging 2-1 triumph over the group leaders, Al-Hilal Omdurman. The match witnessed an early breakthrough from Moslem Anatouf in the 15th minute, followed by Zinedine Ferhat extending MC Alger's lead just before halftime. Al-Hilal managed to pull one back in the 78th minute through Ahmed M'Bracek, but it wasn't enough to alter the outcome.
This crucial win has reshuffled the standings in Group C, with Mokwena's squad now occupying the second position, having accumulated seven points from five matches, surpassing Mamelodi Sundowns. Following the match, the South African tactician acknowledged the difficulty of securing such a favorable result against formidable opponents like Al-Hilal, a team that had previously defeated Sundowns and secured a draw in Pretoria. He praised his team's resilience, stating, "We played a team that just beat Sundowns and they drew in Pretoria. It's a team that has a lot of very good players... This is a team that's scored more goals than anyone else in the group, so we knew that in some moments we are going to have to suffer and I'm very proud that we suffered and we suffered together as a team."
Despite the victory, Mokwena expressed a degree of disappointment regarding the numerous missed scoring opportunities, a recurring concern for his team. He emphasized the importance of clinical finishing in the Champions League, noting, "I think if there is something I'm disappointed about is the number of chances we missed because in Champions League it's details but I'm happy we're creating the chances. At home against Sundowns we had some good chances, and in Lupopo we could have scored more than two and tonight we could have scored more than two."
When pressed about the looming Group C finale against Sundowns in Pretoria, a match anticipated to be filled with tension and high stakes, Mokwena remained notably reserved. He firmly stated, "I will not say anything about the next match, there are people waiting for a comment, so I will say nothing about the next match. Allow me to enjoy this victory just for 24 hours. I go to sleep tonight, I don't watch any games - I will watch the game we played tonight." Meanwhile, Miguel Cardoso's team, Sundowns, is set to face FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo in DR Congo on Sunday. With five points from four games, Sundowns needs a victory against the resilient Congolese side to reclaim the top spot in the group.
This victory for MC Alger underscores the unpredictable and competitive nature of the CAF Champions League. Mokwena's measured response to questions about the upcoming Sundowns match highlights a strategic focus on celebrating current achievements while acknowledging future challenges without prematurely revealing tactics or intentions. The emphasis on collective suffering and creating chances, even amidst missed opportunities, speaks to a coach who is acutely aware of the fine margins in top-tier football. This win not only boosts MC Alger's standing but also sets the stage for an electrifying conclusion to Group C, where every point will count towards securing a coveted spot in the next round.