CAF Champions League: Santos admits AS FAR struggled against Sundowns but backs comeback in second leg

AS FAR Rabat head coach Alexandre Santos has described his side’s encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns as “very difficult” after the Moroccan club fell 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final.

Sundowns secured the narrow advantage through a brilliant first-half free-kick from Aubrey Modiba, a moment Santos conceded was beyond his team’s control.

Speaking after the match, the Portuguese coach acknowledged the intensity of the contest and praised Sundowns’ quality, while insisting his side had moments of control.

“It was tough, very tough, and the first half was more than we wanted to close the space. Sundowns is very strong; we did very well. We get the ball a lot of times, and we made our counterattacks and transitions very well. We could make better, and maybe if we made better, the second half was easy,” Santos told SuperSport after the game.

Santos added that conceding changed the rhythm of the game, forcing AS FAR into a more open approach that suited their opponents.

“But when we conceded one goal, as we conceded was not our fault, but it’s the great ability of the player of Sundowns was difficult to control our intention to make more, but when we want to make more, we leave space to players like Sundowns.

Despite the setback, he remains confident heading into the return leg, stressing belief in his squad’s ability to respond at home.

“It’s very difficult and Sundowns when get space it’s one of the amazing teams of this continent and we keep our result to 1-0, we try, we try to but in the end the most important thing is we go to our home to go to confident to get the other result and to make the goal to make title and fight until the end that’s our intention.”

The coach also questioned a lengthy delay at the start of the second half caused by issues with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, which halted play for over 20 minutes.

“Was not good, because I don’t understand what happened really because sometimes VAR could get problems, but it solved the organisation should be the proud.

“I don’t know, it was not easy for our players because we go inside the second half to improve our ability to score and it was not easy. Maybe it was better for them than for us, but it wasn’t easy,” Santos said.

The decisive second leg is scheduled for Sunday, May 24.