Facing his former club at Loftus Versfeld, Mokwena admitted that arriving in Pretoria needing at least a point against a Sundowns side playing with confidence was always going to be extremely difficult. He said the decisive damage had been done weeks earlier.

“We did not get knocked out today. If you review our Champions League participation, we maybe let it go when we were away in Rwanda,” he said. MC Alger fought back from a goal down to level the match, but conceded late to lose 2–1. “When you have a point away in the Champions League, it is very important.”

Mokwena said his side failed again to take advantage at home against Sundowns, where they created several chances but settled for a draw. “It is important to win your home matches in the Champions League, and we took one point when we could have taken three. That would have made a big difference.”

He also pointed to the goalless draw against Lupopo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where MC Alger conceded a late penalty. “We could have done better. Even after reviewing the game, I do not know how much of a penalty that should have been.”

Mokwena insisted that the final group match was not the decisive factor. “If you review how we have done this season, and we have spoken about this, I do not think this was the game that got us knocked out.”

Asked whether the early exit might affect his future at the club, Mokwena said the decision was not his to make. “I do not know, that is up to the club. I am focused on what is left of the season. That question is not within my control.”

MC Alger will now shift their attention to domestic competitions as it looks to salvage their campaign after a disappointing continental run.

–SABC/ChannelAfrica–