Al Ahly captain Mohamed El-Shennawy says he wanted to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League final, not Wydad Casablanca.
The Red Devils reclaimed the African crown earlier this month after defeating Wydad 3-2 on aggregate in the final, getting revenge for last season's 2-0 loss in the final.
Read: Wydad Casablanca Coach Hails Al Ahly Tau
However, the Egyptian shot-stopper says they wanted to get redemption after suffering a humiliating 5-2 loss to Sundowns in the group stages at FNB Stadium.
"As El-Shennawy, I wanted Sundowns," the shot-stopper said, as per KingFut.
"For me, I wanted to face them again. Whether it was Wydad or Sundowns, either match would have been a redemption.
"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.
"I meant the circumstances that occurred off the pitch last season, and I was not referring to the Moroccan club itself."
El-Shennawy also claimed that time of the clash against Sundowns affected their performance.
"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."
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.