CAIRO: Harras Hodoud boss Tarek Al-Ashri blamed different reasons for his side s recent defeat to Stade Malien in the CAF Confederations Cup.

Hodoud lost 2-0 in Mali on Sunday, slipping to third place in Group A, four points behind leaders Stade Malien.

We lost because of different reasons. First, the temperature and humidity were too high for the players who were fasting, Al-Ashri told FilGoal.com.

The referee also cost us dearly because the two goal scorers were in offside positions.

This doesn’t clear our players, who had an awful game; the worst this season in all competitions.

Hodoud s next game will be against Nigeria s Bayelsa United on Sept. 12, but the cup champions will be without suspended duo Ahmed Eid and Islam Al-Shater.