CAF Champions League: Saint Eloi Lupopo downplays absence of head coach Guy Bukasa for Mamelodi Sundowns defeat

Saint Eloi Lupopo assistant coach, Salmi Yassine, has botched to attribute their CAF Champions League group stage opener defeat to the absence of head coach Guy Bukasa.

The Congolese outfit fell short to the South African giants on Saturday, succumbing to a 3-1 away defeat in a highly competitive clash, held at the Loftus Versveld stadium.

Bukasa is suspended by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), making him unavailable for the much-anticipated clash.

Goals from Marcello Allende and Nuno Santos’ brace was enough for Mamelodi Sundowns to run riot of Saint Eloi Lupopo.

However, Salmi Yassine, who led the team has refused to blame the absence of head coach Guy Bukasa for the defeat.

“It’s just about being focused, it’s not about the coach, or Mukoko not being here, sometimes we need to just put the ball in the net,” Yassine said after the match at Loftus Versveld yesterday afternoon

But Salmi Yassine insists his outfit inabiklity to converts chances led to their defeat against Sundowns.

“If you see the match, we lost the match in the second half, why? If we had opportunities and don’t take it, you get punished… the next time we will work on our efficiencies and take more of our opportunities. We are good at home, and we will see in the next games in Lubumbashi.”

The Congolese outfit will play host to Sudanese side Al Hilal in matchday two of the Champions League group stage next week.