Al Hilal tactician Florent Ibenge has explained why his outfit failed to secure qualification over Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals.
The Sudanese giants succumbed to a back-to-back defeats in both legs, ensuring their elimination from the CAF’s elite club competition.
Al Ahly cruised to a 1-0 victory over Al Hilal at Sheikh Bedia Stadium in Mauritania on Tuesday. Before the return leg, Al Ahly had inflicted similar scoreline against their opponent, confirming their qualification to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Speaking after the game, Florent Ibenge cited fear as the main reason for the sides’ elimination from the Champions League.
“We were afraid of facing Al-Ahly from the start, as it would be extremely difficult. We faced an organized team that succeeded in achieving what we wanted and took advantage of the opportunities well.”
“We weren’t successful in the final meters against Al-Ahly, and we couldn’t deal with their defensive line positively. We managed to reach their goal without scoring.”
“We wasted a very close opportunity through our player Ahmed Salem, who was not lucky enough to shoot, and the goalkeeper (El-Shenawy) succeeded in blocking it”
Al Ahly will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the CAF Champions League.
