FAR Rabat midfielder Khalid Ait Ouarkhane says the Moroccan giants remain fully confident of overturning their first-leg deficit against Mamelodi Sundowns and winning the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title.
FAR Rabat will host the decisive second leg at the Stade Moulay Abdellah on Sunday, May 24, after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in Pretoria last week.
Despite the setback, Ait Ouarkhane believes the tie is still wide open and says the Moroccan side will rely heavily on home support as they chase a historic continental comeback.
“The second leg will be difficult,” he told CAFOnline.com. “We lost the first match, but we are optimistic ahead of the return leg and excited to play. God willing, things will go in our favour.”
The Moroccan powerhouse is aiming to secure its first African title since 1985, when FAR Rabat lifted its only continental trophy.
Ait Ouarkhane revealed the squad has responded positively following the first-leg defeat, with players fully focused on correcting mistakes and delivering a stronger performance in Rabat.
“We are working to make up for the first-leg defeat,” he said. “All the players are contributing to ensure the team is in the best possible condition.”
The midfielder also praised the role of the technical and medical staff in helping prepare the squad mentally and physically for one of the biggest matches in the club’s recent history.
According to the midfielder, confidence inside the camp remains high despite the pressure surrounding the occasion.
“We are optimistic and motivated,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Morocco holding a slender advantage after their first-leg victory, setting up a tense and finely balanced CAF Champions League final showdown.
