Pitso Mosimane admits that Mamelodi Sundowns weren't fully equipped to progress in the African Champions League this season.

The 2016 continental winners nonetheless impressed during their campaign this term, making it all the way to the quarter-finals.

But Egyptian giants Al-Ahly emerged victorious over two legs and are now on course to face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the semi-finals.

Downs are also second on the Premiership standings, having already won the Telkom Knockout, as well as qualifying for the semi-finals of the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup.

A pragmatic Mosimane told the SowetanLIVE: "We didn't have the right type of personnel to fight in Cairo.

"The Champions League is not like the local league. It's heavy and physical. There's no flowing football there. You're playing in a compressed space. You have to contend with time-wasting and questionable refereeing decisions.

"You don't win because you're good. You have to be physical and intelligent. We didn't have that in the first leg against Ahly."

Sundowns lost 2-0 away in the first leg and drew the second 1-1, having beaten Al-Ahly last year's quarter-final ahead of the defeat to Wydad Casablanca in the semi-final.