Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed which team should be considered favourites for the CAF Champions League title after his side reached the semi-finals.
The Brazilians were considered heavy favourites prior to their quarter-final clash against Young Africans but could not score a goal over two legs, as they needed a 3-2 penalty shootout win to progress after a goalless draw in the second leg on Friday and also on aggregate.
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Mokwena says matches in the knockout phase of Africa's premier club tournament are tough and his side should not be considered 'favourites' just because they are playing well.
"It's a competition. I said to you it starts in the knockouts, these games are very difficult, two seasons in a row in the semi-finals now, it's very important," Mokwena told reporters at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
"Let's see, we've been knocked out a couple of times in the quarter-finals, so let's cherish these moments and even in games we thought we would come through, we have been put back a couple of times.
"So, we're entitled to absolutely nothing. I hear a lot of people saying, 'Sundowns are favourites', you've got to have won the competition a couple of times to be favourites," he added.
"You don't get a 'favourites' tag because you're playing well, you've got to earn it, you've got to know how to win. You saw Al Ahly last week against Simba, only one chance, and they do it season in and season out.
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They know how to navigate their way through this competition, and that's what we're learning to do, to navigate our way through the competition," the 37-year-old coach concluded.
In the semi-finals, Sundowns will face Esperance de Tunis, who have won four CAF Champions League titles.
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