Josephs praises Wits effort against Al Ahly

The Clever Boys could only draw 0-0 at home to the Red Devils on Sunday afternoon, meaning they lost the tie 1-0 on aggregate and failed to make the Champions League group stages, dropping instead into the Caf Confederation Cup play-offs.

Wits failed to create enough chances to really trouble their opponents on Sunday, Al Ahly showing superb defensive organisation in progressing to the next round.

“These are the eight-time African champions, they are not giants for nothing and we gave a good account of ourselves,” said Josephs.

“We cannot forget that a team like Wits is only a team recently competing for the title in our domestic league. Who would have thought Wits would be competing with Al Ahly for a place in the group stages of the Champions League? We have to look at the positives.

“We can learn from this and their (Al Ahly’s) mentality in how to win games, they got the 1-0 at home and defended for their lives. They knew exactly where to be and what to do. They know how to grind out results.

“We had a few chances we were just a bit immature and inexperienced. Guys like Phakamani Mahlambi and Gabadinho (Mhango) just need to learn how to have that killer instinct, but they will learn.”

Wits will now play in the final qualifying round for the Caf Confederation Cup group stages, but Josephs indicated the side need to focus on winning the Absa Premiership as a priority.

“How can you win the Champions League or the Confederation Cup when you haven’t even won the league title? Who do you think you are? Let’s be realistic, we need to go and get the league and it is hot up there,” he added.