Steve Komphela adamant Mamelodi Sundowns have mental strength to win Caf Champions League! 'We can't regret conceding, champions are born out of such tragedies'

Mamelodi Sundowns have been chasing the second Caf Champions League star for almost a decade.

In recent seasons, Masandawana were eliminated in the semi-final of the annual competition.

However, they have gone a step forward in the 2024-25 season.

On May 24, Sundowns hosted Pyramids in the first leg of the Caf Champions League final game staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

A late goal denied the Premier Soccer League champions what could have been a 1-0 win.

Masandawana are hoping to win in Cairo or get a high-scoring draw to win the trophy for the first time since 2016.

Club's assistant coach Steve Komphela insists that it is possible for Sundowns to get past the Egyptian outfit.

“It’s a draw, we’re in a final of the [Caf] Champions League and you know it’s always important not to concede at home, but it’s happened, we cannot regret, we must look forward, go to Egypt and try and get goals, also acknowledging the strength of the opponent,” the former Moroka Swallows coach stated.

“But Sundowns are equally a... good team, [the late goal] will deflate you, but champions are born out of such tragedies," Komphela continued.

"You just need to show resilience and mental strength because if you drown yourself in that sorrow, you won’t rise.

“So, it’s important to say ‘okay, it happened, but did I lose, or did I learn?’ So, the lessons we picked up here should take us forward, and we know they have problems as well.

"It’s a draw, we shared, as much as they scored away, we have to go to Cairo and make life difficult for them," he concluded.

The second leg will be played on Sunday, June 1, in Cairo, Egypt.

It will be a massive win for Miguel Cardoso if he manages to get the needed result to be crowned.

However, Pyramids are determined to win their first Caf Champions League trophy.