Thinasonke Mbuli proud of UWC players despite early exit

The Capetonians needed a win to progress to the semi-finals, but TP Mazembe and AS FAR pipped them to the two available spots.

UWC finished third on the table – log leaders AS FAR have nine and Mazembe six.

Mbuli says her players displayed the UWC play.

"I feel very proud, someone will say why am I proud after a loss but it's the first time in this tournament that my team played the way they train. This is us every day, performing like this, starting from training to our games at home. We played without fear, we were in control of the game, we created more chances than them," Mbuli said.

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Mbuli’s main concern is the failure by her charges to convert chances into goals when they had the ability to do so.

"But I knew that if we keep on missing chances, they are gonna get one, two and then finish the game but overall performance, I'm happy. There's a bit of positives that I can take from this game but the bravery, of playing the UWC way against the number two team in Africa. I'm very proud, we didn't get the result we wanted but I'll take this home, I'm very proud," she added.

Although they went toe to toe with the more experienced North Africans, Mbuli was full of praise for AS FAR.

"A very good team, I said that in our previous press conference. Technically good side, I think one of the best few teams in Africa and no wonder they are dominant in terms of number of players in the Moroccan national team because of how they play,” the coach continued.

“They are a very good side, you hardly find players that are all at the same level in terms of how their technical abilities. So, yeah, a very good side, I hope they do well in the tournament but I'm still supporting Sundowns."