Rulani Mokwena sets 10-point target for Mamelodi Sundowns

This was Mokwena’s projection after their narrow 1-0 win over Sudanese giants Al Hilal at Loftus Stadium in Tshwane yesterday.

The on-song Cassius Mailula was once again target, netting his third goal in the competition and 10th of the season across all competitions.

Mailula was denied a legitimate second goal when he was incorrectly flagged offside, which would have helped should things go as far as goal difference deciding the outcome of the group.

But Mokwena was satisfied with the important three points.

"The first thing is to get three points. History tells you that the lowest number of points to come out of the group stage is four. We want to get as close as possible to 10 points because that guarantees you a position in the knockouts. It could have been more, I think we scored a very good goal for the second one, unfortunately it was judged off-side. But I thought today the boys were very good and applied themselves very well," he said.

Mokwena is hoping that, as the tournament progresses, match officiating will improve with the introduction of VAR only coming from the quarterfinal stages.

"I think the level of the game is improving in the African continent and that will contribute to moving to that space of VAR. But there's good progress even though we know that VAR will come in the quaterfinals and that will assist. I'm just very pleased with the perfomance today apart from looking at that goal, we deserved the three points today," he concluded.