The “Cardoso Derby”: Why Sundowns’ Boss Is Putting Friendships Aside To Sink Esperance
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso insists nothing will be decided in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final against Esperance, despite his desire to get one over his former employers.
The Brazilians are in Rades for Sunday’s clash at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi, marking the third consecutive year these giants have met.
Remarkably, Cardoso has been in the dugout for every one of those encounters.
The Portuguese tactician maintains a perfect record in this fixture. Last season, he guided Sundowns to a quarter-final victory over Esperance. Conversely, in the 2023/24 campaign, he was at the helm of the Tunisian side that knocked out Rulani Mokwena’s Sundowns in the semi-finals.
Across these four encounters, Cardoso has always been on the winning side, and he will hope that record remains intact on Sunday.
While he will reunite with familiar faces at the club, Cardoso admitted that any social pleasantries will have to wait.
“Obviously, it’s a significant moment to come here, and the best way to meet friends would be to enjoy time together,” said Cardoso.
“But as the coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, my focus is on preparing for this match. I’m very happy to be back in Tunisia and to see people I’ve shared moments with.
“The most important thing is my job and how I prepare my team. I am fully focused and committed to that.
“This is the first of two matches — nothing will be decided here. We have to approach the game with the right mindset, against a strong team, and with a clear way of playing.
“We will be ready.”
Sundowns and Esperance have met 10 times since 2000, with the Tunisian side winning four matches and Sundowns two, while the rest have ended in draws.
On their run to the 2001 final, Sundowns faced Esperance in the group stages, with all matches ending in draws. They went on to reach the final but lost to Al Ahly.
Meanwhile, CAF has appointed Algerian 40-year-old Mustapha Ghorbal to officiate the match.
Ghorbal was in charge when Bafana Bafana played out a goalless draw against Zimbabwe in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in October.
He will also be remembered for sending off Mbekezeli Mbokazi in stoppage time following an altercation, with the defender shown a straight red card after retaliating.
Ghorbal also officiated when Cardoso’s Esperance lost the first leg of the Champions League final to Al Ahly in Rades two years ago, before going down 1-0 in the return leg in Egypt.
