Sundowns boss wishes top spot was already in the bag

Pitso Mosimane, coach of Mamelodi Sundowns

Thursday Jan 30, 2020. 12:00

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane has expressed regret that his side has not wrapped up top spot in Group C of the CAF Champions League.

The Brazilians currently sit at the summit of the group and have secured qualification for the quarterfinals of the continental competition.

Yet last weekend’s 2-2 draw away to Petro de Luanda has opened the door for second-placed Wydad Casablanca to steal first place from ‘Downs when the teams meet in Tshwane in the final round of matches on Saturday.

A win for the Morocco team would push Mosimane’s side into second place and mean they will be paired with a continental heavyweight such as TP Mazembe or Esperance de Tunis in the quarterfinals.

“The plan is to finish on top of the group and at this point, we are top, but we still might not qualify as the group winners until match-day six happens.

Unfortunately, we still have to play for results and I thought we won’t play for results against Wydad,” Mosimane is quoted by The Citizen.

Mosimane added, “Every coach wants to win the tournament and every coach believes that they can win any match.

“Yes it not easy, there are teams that are very strong in this competition and realistically it is not easy to win this tournament but you need to go as far as you can. Last year we went to the semi-finals to we need to try.”

Sundowns are bidding to win a second Champions league crown, having first claimed the title in 2016.