Mamelodi Sundowns star Teboho Mokoena admits Young Africans stifled their game plan in Dar es Salaam and has called upon the Yellow Nation to pack Loftus Versfeld.
Mokoena, played the full game, which was his 40th match this season for club and country, just a couple of days after starring in the 3-3 draw for Bafana Bafana against Algeria.
Sundowns weren’t at their fluent best despite dominating possession as the home side showed defensive resilience while creating more chances with their swift counters, however, the game remained scoreless after 90 minutes.
“We didn’t start well the first half but I think the reaction was good, we didn’t create the [number] of chances we usually do [though], it was really tough game,” he said after the 1st leg CAF Champions League quarter-final tie.
“They were solid at the back, closed the spaces in the middle and forced us out wide, which [is[ something we don’t normally do, their game plan worked today.
“I think we need to go back to South Africa, back to the drawing board and improve our performance.”
While the conditions was extremely humid, as is the case in the evenings in East Africa, Mokoena says it’s not an excuse but urged Sundowns fans to create the same hostile atmosphere of the Wananchi, when the second leg takes place on Friday in Tshwane.
“It was hard hot today, but what do you expect? It’s an away game, it’s expected that not everything will favour us, we wanted to get an away goal, which we didn’t we have to sort it out in South Africa – we have to win in South Africa,” he added.
“Masandawana, like you saw tonight, Yanga fans fully packed the stadium, may you please also come next Friday and support us, we really need you at Loftus Stadium.”
