CAF Champions League: We’ll do our best in Bamako against Sundowns – Stade Malien coach Mauril Njoya

Head coach of Stade Malien Mauril Njoya insists his outfit will present a different challenge when they host Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. in the second leg of their CAF Champions League quarterfinal tie in Bamako.

After suffering a 3–0 defeat at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday night, Njoya refused to write off his side’s chances, insisting that while his team lost the battle, the war is far from over.

“We lost the battle, not the war, but I have to mention in terms of VAR there’s a lot of kind of—I can say—mistakes because they put pressure on the referee to go and look at the VAR,” Njoya told SABC Sport after the match. “I guess there’s a lot of progress to make. Yes, today we lost, but I guess we will try to do our best in Bamako.”

The coach admitted that absences played a role in the home defeat, with key players either suspended or injured.

“It happened because we have some players that are suspended and others injured. The bench that we had is what we had to do, so I guess in a week from now we will have our players back and will be different in Bamako,” Njoya added.

Despite the heavy loss, Stade Malien remain determined to capitalize on home advantage in the return leg. Njoya’s comments suggest tactical adjustments and the return of key personnel could make the Malian side far more competitive when Sundowns arrive in Bamako.

Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, will aim to protect their 3–0 advantage and secure a place in the CAF Champions League semifinals. The first-leg win provided a strong foundation, but Njoya’s warning serves as a reminder that underestimating Stade Malien at home could be costly.

As both sides prepare for the second leg, fans can expect a high-stakes clash in Bamako, with Njoya promising a resilient and reinvigorated Stade Malien eager to overturn the deficit and keep their continental ambitions alive.