‘Maybe at this level they’re the best crew in Africa,’ mentioned Aritz Lopez Garai.
The stress of Mamelodi Sundowns securing a second CAF Champions League title was heightened by their triumph in the African Football League (AFL).
As if the weight of expectations to emulate the class of 2016 to win Africa’s premeir membership competitors is just not heavy sufficient, FC Nouadhibou coach Aritz Lopez Garai has branded Sundowns as the best crew on the continent and certainly one of the favourites for this season’s crown.
Under then coach Pitso Mosimane, the Brazilians made historical past by capturing the membership’s first ever continental championship to turn out to be the second membership in South Africa to raise the coveted trophy after Orlando Pirates went all the means in 1995.
“I even said before the game that maybe at this point they are the best team in Africa,” Lopez mentioned following his aspect’s 3-0 to Masandawana on Sunday at Loftus Versfeld.
“They play with the ball and with out the ball they press. Their followers are improbable and the environment is improbable.
“They have good coaches and I think they are one of the favourites. Wydad and Al-Ahly have a lot of power to win but for me Mamelodi Sundowns are one of the favourites to win the champions league.”
On their method to qualifying for the group phases, the Spaniard and his crew shocked the continent by sending Al Ahly Tripoli and Rèal Bamako crashing out of the competitors in the preliminary rounds.
‘A big miracle’
“The championship in South Africa is very strong and it’s different from our league,” he mentioned.
“We play a number of video games and we win however after we play opponents of this stage it turns into troublesome. We performed away however after we play at residence will probably be completely different.
“It was completely different for my gamers to play this type of opponent and I really feel they had been a bit nervous with the ball as a result of we don’t usually lose the ball however Sundowns press excellent.
“We learn in this competition. For us to be here is a big miracle. There has never been a Mauritanian team that played in the Champions League.”
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