Cardoso Remains Focused On Champions League Quest
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is well aware of the pressure to deliver the coveted CAF Champions League title as his team prepares to take on the Congolese side Saint-Eloi Lupopo in their group stage opener at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
The Brazilians have been struggling to win the competition since their 2016 triumph under Pitso Mosimane, and last season’s final loss to Pyramids FC has only added to the pressure.
“I think we need to have a clear focus on winning competitions, and it’s not only on winning the Champions League,” Cardoso said, emphasizing the importance of a broader perspective.
“But I know that throughout the competition, everybody will put the team under pressure, saying we are the ones that should win, and they are the ones that are just participating.”
Despite the weight of expectation, Cardoso remains resolute, stating, “What we will do is be loyal to ourselves, and being loyal to ourselves is obviously knowing that we have a desire, we have an intention.”
Cardoso dismissed the notion that his team’s pursuit of the Champions League title is an obsession, saying, “I don’t think that the word obsession is the right one because obsession for me it’s a little bit already in a medical state.”
Instead, the former Esperance mentor emphasized the importance of dedication and hard work, adding, “But the pursuit of an objective should be done with all the energy that you can put into it, and that energy obviously we are going to put.”
The 53-year-old acknowledged the significance of the Champions League trophy, which has eluded Sundowns for a decade.
“For the Champions League, it’s a trophy that the club has sought for 10 years. Unfortunately, last year we were not able to give this pleasure to South Africa in general, but mostly to our fans and to our club.”
Cardoso’s personal stake in the competition is also high, having lost in the final for two consecutive years with Sundowns (in 2025) and Esperance (in 2024).
“As you might imagine, I’m even in a worse situation because for two years in a row I was there (in the final) and I could not win.”
However, Cardoso is focused on the present moment, emphasizing the importance of winning the group stages.
“There’s a lot to do before we arrive there. We should think about winning the group stages, and to win the group stages, we need to win the next match, and the next match is the most important match of our lives – that’s how we are going to face this match against Lupopo.”
With a strong mindset and a clear plan, Sundowns will look to make a statement against Lupopo and set themselves up for a successful campaign.
Sundowns are in Group C alongside MC Alger, led by former coach Rulani Mokwena, and Sudanese side Al Hilal. Both MC Alger and Al Hilal will face each other on Friday afternoon at Amahoro National Stadium in Rwanda.
