Al Ahly sporting director on Sundowns defeat: 'This is football, we don't blame anyone'

Al Ahly sporting director Sayed Abdelhafiz says they are by no means dead and buried after his sides 1-0 CAF Champions League defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.

The 85th-minute strike by Thapelo Morena at the Cairo International Stadium was enough to ensure the Brazilians leave Egypt with maximum points.

In his post-match press conference, Abdelhafiz is not concerned about the shocking defeat.

"The group stage is about collecting points in order to qualify. The ball didn't want to go in today (Saturday), but we still have four games, and we can save ourselves," Abdelhafiz told beIN SPORTS.

"The coming period won't be easy. We have difficult matches, and we need to win them.

"This happens a lot in Africa. If we replay the match, we would score with all the chances we had. Last year in the same stadium, we drew with AS Vita Club, with the same scenario.

"The coming period is difficult, but we are the defending champions. We need to be fully focused and do our best to qualify. We have matches against Pharco in the league, a match against Al-Merrikh, and then we travel to South Africa to face Sundowns.

"This is football. We don't blame anyone but ourselves, and after we blame ourselves, we will focus on correcting our mistakes and achieve what is required of the group stage, which is to qualify.

"The main goal of the group stage is to qualify to the knockout stages. If we qualify as top of the group, it's a good thing, and if we qualify as the second, it's okay. In any case, we will face a strong team," he added.

The victory against the Red Devils sees Sundowns further their group with seven points after three games.

Al-Merrikh sit in second place after two matches with four points, while Mosimane's Egyptian giants remain