Cardoso Gives Mothiba Injury Update Ahead Of Fluminense Showdown
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has provided an injury update on striker Lebo Mothiba, with their much-anticipated blockbuster clash against Fluminense at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday (21:00) looming.
The South African champions will lock horns with the Brazilian outfit in a must-win Group F encounter at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, as they aim to become the only African side in the knockout stages of the 32-team global club tournament.
Masandawana need a win to secure passage to the next round of the competition, having accumulated three points from two outings, which left them in third place. Meanwhile, the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners top the group with four points and will progress if they avoid defeat.
However, the Tshwane giants are sweating over the availability of the former Strasbourg frontman, who came off the bench to score in the 4-3 defeat to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
The 29-year-old forward also featured in the CAF Champions League final.
“I think everybody knows the level of Lebo Mothiba as a player, you saw his impact in both matches [at the Club World Cup] and how he impacted the game in the last one,” said Cardoso, who has been impressed with Mothiba’s performances.
“Obviously [it’s impressive] for a player that had such a bad moment with an injury on the knee and came to the club to try and go back to his best condition. It was a player in whom we invested a lot because we believe so much in him.
“He is such a wonderful person, a wonderful player that we need to believe in as we believe in the other players.”
Cardoso went on to state that Mothiba, who appeared to have suffered a muscle injury in their last outing, is subject to a late fitness test. The Portuguese tactician says the Bafana international is, however, not expected to endure a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“We have to give him that respect, but unfortunately, he got injured in the last match. I think that those kinds of incidents happen, I don’t know if you saw, but in the match between Inter Miami and Palmeiras, there’s also a defender from Palmeiras who has a similar injury – at least the mechanical action seems similar,” added the Downs mentor.
“I was entering the stadium, looking at the F1 track, and I was thinking that when you drive at high speed, the possibility of having an accident is bigger, and these players play at a high speed, and sometimes accidents can happen.
“But we don’t expect that the question [injury] on Mothiba is a big thing, it’s not a big thing. Let’s see if he can play the match or not. It’s not yet clear that he cannot play, but even if he cannot play, it will not be a big thing.
“It’s just that the time between matches is so small that even a small thing can condition the fact that you can’t play. We are waiting to try and have the last assessments, last tests, and then we will see if he can play.”
