Rivers Angels head coach Edwin Okon believes his side’s loss in their opening game of the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League was a ‘normal’ consequence of their travel travails that saw them arrive Egypt just one day before taking to the field against Group B opponents ASFAR Club.

Sanaa Mssoudy registered the first ever hat-trick in tournament history to condemn Angels to a 3-0 defeat at the El Salam Stadium, Cairo on Saturday.

Speaking after his side’s loss to the Moroccans, Okon blamed the defeat and his side’s lacklustre display on fatigue from their travel exertions.

“The team is tired from all the travelling issues and that’s the normal result,” Okon told CAF media.

“My job is to pick up their spirit, let them know that the game is over and recover for the next matches.”

Okon will be looking to guide his side to a first win that will taken them off the bottom of the group when they face South Africans on Mamelodi Sundowns on Monday.

The South Africans are level on points with ASFAR Club after they recorded an opening win against Vihiga Queens.