Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Rhulani Mokwena, has accused Al Ahly of ‘complaining about everything’ after the Egyptian team’s loss in Pretoria in the first leg of the African Football League semi-final.
Al Ahly’s coach, Marcel Koller, expressed his frustration after losing 1-0 to Downs in Pretoria on Sunday.
The coach pointed out the use of VAR when Percy Tau was fouled in the box by Downs’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Speaking to the media in Cairo on Tuesday ahead of the second leg, Rhulani made it clear that Al Ahly can’t handle losing.
“I am very surprised that Al Ahly complained about everything. Before the first leg, Al Ahly complained that we played at 3 pm, yet they are allowed to schedule the game at their preferred time, and you hear no complaints from Sundowns,” said Mokwena.
“I am surprised that Al Ahly always complains about referees only when they lose. Jose Mourinho once said that if a big club starts to look for other factors apart from football when they lose, they begin to lose their status as a big club.
“I hope that is not the case with Al Ahly because they are the flagship of African Football. The rest of the world looks at Al Ahly as a reflection of what African football represents,” he continued.
“My question after the complaints is – what is the intention? I can go through a list of incidents where the referees did not act in what I thought was the just way. When you lose you shake hands and show good sportsmanship, especially when the opponent is better than you.”
🗣️ 🟡 Rulani Mokwena
“Al Ahly complain about everything.” #AFL
pic.twitter.com/FVpGOFXstJ— Mazola J. Molefe (@superjourno) October 31, 2023
