South African tactician Rulani Mokwena has emphasized the importance of taking MC Alger beyond the knockout stages from a group comprised of league champions in their respective leagues.
Alger qualified for the CAFCL group back-to-back after eliminating Liberian side FC Fussel and Cameroonian Champions Colombe FC. After they were eliminated in the quarterfinals last season by Orlando Pirates, this season Mokwena and his troops aim to surpass that, but they will have to first make it to the quarterfinals.
After they were placed in Group C alongside Sudanese champions Al Hilal SC, his former side Mamelodi Sundowns and DRC’s FC St Eloi Lupopo, Mokwena understands that it won’t be easy for them to achieve what they want to achieve but emphasized that the opening clash against Al Hilal is very important.
“Group stages of the Champions League very difficult just last night I was going through other different groups,” Mokwena told the media.
“I think we are one of the two groups that have three league champions in it and that already is very difficult only FC Lupopo were runners-up in their domestic league but the rest of the three teams are league champions that tells you the level of the teams, the difficulty that we will face with the games we have to respect that but also we are very comfortable and extremely confident in our profile as the club in our ambition as the staff.
“As a group of players and we understand the club that we represent so we want to do better than what we did last season but of course it starts with qualifying from the group that means you have to start match by match.
“This is a very important match for us, three teams from this group were in the quarter finals and maybe even beyond of the Champions League last season and only two can make it this season, we want to be one of the two.”
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