CAF CL: Youssef El Fahli confident AS FAR can overturn Sundowns defeat in Rabat

Youssef El Fahli remains confident that AS FAR can overturn their first-leg defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns FC and fight back to win the CAF Champions League title in Rabat.

The Moroccan forward spoke after AS FAR suffered a narrow 1-0 loss in Pretoria during the first leg of the continental final, leaving the club with work to do ahead of the decisive return match in Morocco next week.

Despite the disappointing result, El Fahli insisted the tie remains open and believes AS FAR can impose their style at home in front of their supporters.

“We didn’t expect this result and we’re not satisfied,” El Fahli said after the match.

El Fahli points to difficult pitch conditions in Pretoria

The AS FAR attacker also highlighted the playing surface in Pretoria as one of the challenges the team faced during the encounter.

According to El Fahli, the conditions were very different from what the Moroccan side is used to playing on back home.

“The ground was hard and different from what we are used to in Morocco,” he explained.

However, the forward made it clear that the team is fully focused on producing a strong response in the second leg.

“But we will impose our style at home and do everything to bring the trophy to our fans,” he added.

Moroccan side relying on home support in decisive clash

El Fahli also called on supporters to continue backing the team ahead of the crucial return leg at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The Moroccan giants will need to overturn the one-goal deficit if they are to secure their second CAF Champions League title and complete a remarkable continental campaign.

With the decisive clash set to take place in Rabat next Sunday, El Fahli believes the atmosphere created by AS FAR supporters could play a major role in helping the team complete a comeback against the South African champions.

AS FAR are chasing their first African title since 1985, while Sundowns are hoping to secure a second continental crown after their 2016 triumph.