AS FAR Boss: Downs Showed They're A Good Team

AS FAR Rabat boss Alexandre Santos has reflected on the CAF Champions League final against Mamelodi Sundowns, admitting that finishing as the second-best team in the competition is "not enough" for the Moroccan outfit.

Mohamed Hrimat's 40th-minute penalty gave the home side hope of lifting the trophy, but that hope faded when Teboho Mokoena’s wonder strike in first-half stoppage time proved decisive in ensuring that the South African side were crowned continental champions.

The Pretoria-based outfit completed a 2-1 aggregate victory at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium, but Santos maintained that his side still produced a good performance.

“We are the second-best team this season in the Champions League. Of course, it is not enough for us and our fans, but I think we did very well against a very strong team,” the manager said, per CAFonline.

“We pushed them and created a lot of opportunities. Unfortunately, we conceded a goal, but we remained in character and tried to score. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.”

The Portuguese tactician went on to congratulate the newly crowned continental champions, while also praising the efforts of his players, who came up just short on the night.

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“Unlucky for the club and congratulations to Sundowns. They showed they are a good team, but we also stood our ground in a strong competition like the Champions League,” he added.

“I am proud of these players and our supporters. They can be proud of the work put in by this team in a very tough competition.”

While the dream of lifting their first Champions League title since 1985 failed to materialise, the Moroccan outfit will hope that the momentum gained from reaching this season's final can carry over into the next campaign as they look to learn from this disappointment and challenge again.