Cardoso: Sundowns Must Beat Alger To Reach CAF Knockouts
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says his side has no option but to secure victory against MC Alger in their make-or-break CAF Champions League clash at Loftus Stadium on Saturday, although he acknowledges the challenge ahead.
Rulani Mokwena will bring MC Alger to South Africa to face his former club for the first time since his departure from Sundowns at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Mokwena guided Sundowns to both the inaugural African Football League title and the league championship during that campaign, although they fell short in the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup, losing both competitions to Orlando Pirates.
However, Mokwena now faces a Sundowns side desperate for victory after they were held to a draw by Saint-Éloi Lupopo in Lubumbashi last weekend — a result that left them needing a win to progress to the knockout stages.
Sundowns currently sit third in Group C with six points from five matches, one point behind second-placed MC Alger and two adrift of group leaders Al Hilal.
A win against Alger would guarantee Sundowns a place in the knockout stages, regardless of the outcome between Al Hilal and Lupopo in the other group fixture.
“It never makes us happy to draw, considering our ambitions and our intentions, and what we have done recently and in the past,” Cardoso said.
“We are always focused on victory. I don’t remember many teams winning here,” he added, reflecting on the draw against Lupopo.
“TP Mazembe lost here to Lupopo just a month ago, and Mazembe have four stars on their shirt from winning the CAF Champions League.
“That tells you this team has quality and plays in a very tricky way. No team in this competition has won here, but even so, we are not satisfied.
“Still, it does not take away our energy to move forward and face what we have to do. We have a match to play, and we always play to win because we don’t play for draws.
“Playing for a draw usually leads to losing. We have to be brave enough to face the next game. We have already played MC Alger [and that match ended in a draw], so we know it will be difficult.
“But we are playing in front of our supporters. I hope they understand the moment we are in and support us by coming in numbers, bringing energy, and helping us.
“We will find the best way to approach the match so the opponent cannot read our game. Our objective is to progress in the competition, and that remains our focus.”
