Kenyan striker Michael Olunga has expressed pride in Al Duhail’s performance in the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, despite the team’s exit from the competition.
Al Duhail suffered their heaviest Champions League defeat in the semi-finals, losing 7-0 to defending champions Al Hilal at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.
Although disappointed with the loss, Olunga noted the achievement of reaching the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history.
“Tough one to take,” wrote Olunga on his social media pages.
“Wanted to go to the final but this was not our day. Still proud of this far Al Duhail has come and achieving a semifinal spot for the first time in the history of the club.”
The Qatar Stars League leaders had a poor record going into the fixture, with one win, three draws, and two losses. They were outplayed by Al Hilal from the first minute, with former Watford and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo scoring a hat-trick.
Olunga, who was the top scorer in the Champions League last season with nine goals, remained optimistic about Al Duhail’s future, stating that they would build from their achievements in the competition.
The Kenyan international will now focus on the upcoming home fixture against Al Arabi on March 2.
Despite the defeat, Olunga’s performance in the competition has been impressive. He scored a brace in the quarter-final win against Al-Shabab and was a key player in Al Duhail’s journey to the semi-finals.
Olunga’s experience and talent will be crucial in helping Al Duhail continue their pursuit of success in the Qatar Stars League and future Champions League campaigns.
