CAFCL: Al Hilal coach Reghecampf speaks on Sundowns defeat

Al Hilal Omdurman coach Laurentiu Reghecampf has attributed their 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in Rwanda on Friday largely to the absence of the visitors’ first-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The Sudanese giants scored both goals in the first-half at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali to go top of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) Group C.

 

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Sundowns’ second-choice goalkeeper Denis Onyango contributed to Al Hilal’s opener. The Ugandan left his line late to challenge Abdelrazig Omer, in the process fouling him in the box. The referee pointed to the penalty spot for Al Hilal talisman Mohamed Abdelrahman to score.

Moments later on, winger Jean-Claude Girumugisha scored the second-goal for the Rwanda-based hosts. The Burundian made the most of sloppy marking with many yellow shirts just static and ball-watching.

Al Hilal had forced Sundowns into a two-all draw

Sundowns’ only reply came from the hour-mark through Arthur Sales but it was not enough. The Betway Premiership side remained in second place with five points.

Reflecting on the match in a post-match conference Reghecampf explained how the absence of Williams worked to the advantage of Al Hilal in the top- of-the table clash.

“Congratulations to the players for both teams. They played amazing football tonight. Both teams tried to win, like I told you before the game, that it would be an open game. It was only playing for one goal and another goal. It was amazing football. For us the coaches, it was not easy to see that kind of a game. But for the fans, I would like to say ‘congratulations’ to all the players who played,” the coach said.

“The big value for us was that their first-choice goalkeeper didn’t play. When I saw that in the newspaper, it was for me only one plan: to press high and to not let them come in the middle to play and have their game because they have very high quality players from the middle to the front. I think for them, it was a minus because in the buildup, they lost one important player.”

The rematch comes barely a week after Al Hilal forced Sundowns into a two-all draw at home in Pretoria, South Africa. The loss will certainly pile more pressure on Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.

Other group members MC Alger, who have one point, will host Saint-Éloi Lupopo FC (four points) on Saturday.