Remo Stars head coach Tiago Conde has vowed that his team will bounce back stronger despite their crushing 5–1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League last Sunday.
The Nigerian champions endured a torrid evening at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena as the South African giants produced a dominant performance in the first leg of the second preliminary round.
Speaking after the match, the Portuguese tactician admitted that Sundowns were clearly superior on the day but insisted his side would learn from the experience.
“We respect Sundowns; they are one of the best teams in Africa, and you could see their quality today,” Conde told reporters. “But we’ll take lessons from this defeat. The boys gave everything, and we’ll correct our mistakes before the return leg.”
Despite acknowledging the gulf in class, Conde remains optimistic that his players can deliver a better performance in the return fixture.
“This is football; sometimes you lose to learn,” he said. “We will review our performance, fix our defensive lapses, and approach the second leg with a better mentality. Overturning a four-goal deficit is tough, but not impossible.”
Conde described his squad as a young and evolving team still adapting to the demands of continental football, stressing that the setback is part of their development.
The decisive second leg is scheduled for Sunday, 26 October, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where Remo Stars will attempt to stage a remarkable comeback against the reigning South African champions.
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