Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes his team has what it takes to defeat Esperance de Tunis away from home after claiming a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarterfinals clash on Tuesday.

Deadly Namibian striker Peter Shalulile scored the only goal of the match to help Sundowns edge past Esperance at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday and claim their first-ever victory over the Tunisian giants after failing to do so in four attempts.

Now, with a return leg scheduled for 8 April, which will see the Portuguese mentor return to familiar territory but in the opposite dugout after departing the Taraji in October 2024, the 52-year-old tactician downplayed the pressure of the match.

“For me, it’s a match like any other one. My job is to make the players believe that the match is like any other one because there are only 11 players on the pitch, the crowd doesn’t influence the game, and the referee is the most likely person who won’t want to make mistakes so that the game will be neutral,” said Cardoso.

“So, 11 players have to play football, they have their strengths, and I know what they believe. They believe in Champions League nights; they lived wonderful Champions League nights turning results around.

“They were Champions League winners, changing results from 2-0 and changing them home, winning the Champions League, that’s why they believe on that.”

While Cardoso is confident his side can beat Esperance both home and away and seal passage to the semi-finals of Africa’s elite club competition, he is aware of the threat posed by his former team, particularly at their home ground.

“But I also believe we can win there [in Tunisia], and my job is to also make my players they can win there because if you go there and go for a draw, you will lose. Esperance will be another team at home, and they also know if they suffer a goal, it will be very tricky for them,” he added.

“So, the relaxation of the coach is because of the trust he has on his players; we are also relaxed, and that’s respect for the competition and respect for what we have ahead because [these] matches are 180 minutes.

“I also know what to expect but I also know what we can do, so let’s hope we can be committed enough with our capacities and don’t leave anything out and we play to win because to pass this quarterfinal of the Champions League – next match we must play to win, not to get a draw, otherwise you don’t come from there with a result.”