MC Alger head coach Rulani Mokwena has expressed confidence in his side’s ability to qualify for the CAF Champions League last 16, despite a disappointing start to the group stages.
The Algerian giants have endured a difficult opening to Group C, recording two defeats and a single draw, the latter coming against Mokwena’s former club, Mamelodi Sundowns.
MC Alger currently sits at the bottom of the group with one point from three matches, with four fixtures remaining to be played.
Following a shocking defeat to Saint-Eloi Lupopo over the weekend, Mokwena acknowledged that his team was not at its best.
However, the 39-year-old tactician insisted their chances of progressing to the knockout stages remain strong.
“First, congratulations to the opposition. I think over 90 minutes, maybe they were the better team, especially in the first half, we didn’t have enough, we didn’t compete enough,” Mokwena said in a video shared by African Football Connect.
“We arrived late for the duels, and we arrived late for the second ball. We made too many mistakes for a Champions League game. But in the second half, I thought we were a little bit better, more stable.
“All the players are doing enough to help the team to be comfortable on the pitch, and it’s just a pity that in some of the moments where we had some chances, we were let down by our decision-making.
“I think there was one situation where we could have, [Zinedine] Ferhat could have given [Zakaria] Naidji, or maybe another final pass, but okay, it’s a pity we lost the game in the second half when we were much, much better,” he added.
“But in the Champions League, you have to play 90 minutes, not 45. Well, you see, it’s very complicated, this group. So we cannot give up yet. There are still three games to go. We have two matches at home, and anything can happen.”
With three of their remaining four group matches scheduled to be played at home, Alger will look to revive their campaign when they host Lupopo on Friday, 30 January, a fixture likely to play a decisive role in determining their fate in the competition.
