Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy has explained why he was eager to face South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the Caf Champions League.

The Egyptian giants won their record-extending 11th Champions League title after defeating Wydad AC of Morocco 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final. However, according to the 34-year-old El Shenawy, he could have preferred a final against the South African giants to revenge the 5-2 defeat they suffered against them in the group stage of the competition.

“For me, I wanted to face them again [Sundowns]. Whether it was Wydad or Sundowns, either match would have been a redemption,” El Shenawy said when asked the team he would have loved to face in the final adding: “I respect Wydad club, its fans, and its players. Some people felt distressed by my statement about getting redemption and winning the title in their stadium.

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“I meant the circumstances that occurred off the pitch last season, and I was not referring to the Moroccan club itself, At the beginning of the Sundowns match, we were doing well. We complained about playing at 3 pm due to the temperature and lack of oxygen.

“In Egypt, we are in winter while they are in the summer in South Africa, and all of that causes significant stress on us. The 5-2 defeat was a big shock for us, and after the match, we felt distressed.

“The next day, Koller shook hands with all the players, including myself, and we talked about the need to forget what happened and focus on the Coton Sport match as long as there is a chance to qualify.

“The match was a turning point because we were doing well, but it caused a significant awakening for us, and the evidence is the victory against Coton with four goals in Cameroon.”