CAF Champions League: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso expects tricky group stage draw

Head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso is expecting a tricky CAF Champions League group stages draw next week.

The draw for the CAF elite club competition has been scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2025 following the closure of the preliminary round.

The South African outfit triumphed over the Nigeria champions to secure a place in the group stages of the competition. Peter Shalulile and Nuno Santos scored for Sundowns in the return clash, held at Loftus Versveld as they progressed 7-1 on aggregate.

However, Cardoso has anticipated a very tricky draw for his Mamelodi Sundowns side next Monday.

“What I expect is a draw that can be tricky and very difficult,” Cardoso said after the game at Loftus Versveld in a 2-0 win. Peter Shalulile and Nuno Santos scored for the home side in this second leg tie having won 5-1 in Nigeria a week ago.

“There will be teams in pot three and four that have quite powerful football. But even if they will not be in our group, there are teams that don’t have such names but can be tricky to play against, especially when we go away from home. We need to take the competition as serious as it is.” He said.

Sundowns missed out on the ultimate last season after falling short to Pyramids FC in the final.