Stalemate with benefits Rulani Mokwena takes positives from Sundowns tie

Neither team managed to break the deadlock at the Ali La Pointe Stadium but the result was enough for Sundowns to stay top of Group C ahead of Al Hilal, who take on Saint Eloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi on Sunday afternoon.

Mokwena insists the performance showed clear progress and offers a solid platform for Alger to build on as the tournament unfolds.

"I think it was a very good game, two very good teams. I thought in the first half we did very, very well to control the spaces we wanted to control and we created a couple of chances and some half chances even on the transition,” Mokwena said. 

“I want to thank the players for an incredible effort today because even in the second half the intensity was very, very good. I don't wanna talk too much about the tactics because this is the Champions League and we still have to go to Pretoria and try to win. 

“So, with a lot of humility we accept the point even though there is a feeling inside of us that we could have won the game today."

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The former Sundowns mentor insisted that, even with several key players sidelined, his team were still in a stronger position than he had expected.

"It's not necessarily this result, I think after the performance of today, inside we are happy with the performance but we are a little bit disappointed with only getting one point,” the coach explained. 

“But when the draw was done if you had asked me if we would take 0-0 in the second game against Sundowns in this moment that we are in without Ghezala, Bangoura [Mohammed], only two weeks of training, Khelif [Marwane] returning, one week of training with Zougrana [Mohammed], if you tell me this and you offer me this, I take it and I run home to South Africa, fast. 

“This situation is a little bit complicated because of the result and the performance in the first half in Rwanda and not necessarily this performance and this result. So, fortunately now we take a bit of a break from the Champions League.

“We have to try and navigate our way but if I do not believe that we can come out of this group then I shouldn't be coaching a big team. As the head coach I've got to give hope, I've got to believe that we can go as far as we can in the Champions League. This is your number one responsibility when you coach a big club like Mouloudia."