Hodoud lost 2-0 in Mali on Sunday, slipping to third place in Group A, four points ahead of 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 goalscorers 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 September 12th, but the cup champions will be without suspended duo Ahmed Eid and Islam Al-Shater.