Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his enthusiasm for playing in packed stadiums in the CAF Champions League, describing it as the kind of atmosphere they relish.

Cardoso initially noted that Loftus Stadium appeared empty at the start of their goalless first-leg semi-final against Al Ahly last weekend. However, he has since clarified his statement, acknowledging that the stadium filled up considerably as the game progressed.

Despite Cardoso’s initial remarks about the attendance, some Sundowns fans felt the coach’s comments were unappreciative.

Looking ahead, Sundowns are set to play in front of a capacity crowd of 70,000 at the Cairo International Stadium for the second leg against Al Ahly on Friday [18:00].

They will be aiming for a scoring draw, which would be sufficient to secure their place in the club’s third Champions League final.

This full capacity was granted to Al Ahly by the Egyptian government, as the club aims to win the prestigious Champions League title for the third consecutive time.

“It is a pleasure to play in a stadium like this,” Cardoso stated at the press conference on Thursday. “Like we had in Tunisia [in the second leg against ES Tunis in the quarterfinals], like we have been finding everywhere in the Champions League – in Morocco, like we have in South Africa because at the beginning of the game I made a mistake when I entered the pitch it was empty and then it got full.

“When I enter the pitch, I look at the stand and I don’t look at any other things and it was clear that the stadium got fuller and it got very comfortable in terms of numbers, and I made a mistake in addressing that in the end.

“So, playing in Johannesburg, in Loftus, with a lot of people, playing here in Cairo with a lot of people, playing in Tunisia with a lot of people, playing in Morocco with a lot of people, that is what we love to live.

“That is how we want to live our lives, that is what we work so much for. So, we come from a pleasant moment, the moment of pleasure where we enjoy all the ambiences.

“I played here also last year [in the Champions League final with ES Tunis], the stadium was full, and we enjoyed it.

“We don’t feel less for having the stadium full, we feel stronger and let’s hope we can silence the crowd with our performance, even if they boo and whistle us, that will mean we are doing well.

“But that’s what we live our lives for – for moments like this. For sure, we will come with big enthusiasm and without any fear regarding the crowd.

“The ambience is strong, but it is positive. There is no violence, there is no aggression, and it will be a wonderful experience again in the match for sure.”

Interestingly, Al Ahly has not managed to defeat Mamelodi Sundowns in their last seven encounters across all competitions, with the South African side holding a strong record against the Egyptian giants. However, Al Ahly often elevates their game in crucial matches, as demonstrated in the first leg at Loftus Stadium where they played positively and did not resort to a defensive approach.