Sundowns coach explains role in keeping CAF Champions League final on track mid VAR disruption

Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League final first leg against Morocco’s Royal Army was briefly thrown into uncertainty on Sunday after a sudden VAR malfunction interrupted play for around 20 minutes.

Despite the disruption, Sundowns managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory in a tightly contested encounter.

Coach Steps In to Calm Situation

Head coach Miguel Cardoso revealed that he played a key role behind the scenes in ensuring the match continued without further escalation, stepping in to encourage calm among players and officials.

According to him, communication between both teams helped prevent the situation from worsening during the stoppage.

“We Must Show a Good Image to the World”

“I witnessed a great deal of sportsmanship between the players of both teams, the technical staff, and the refereeing team. When the VAR technology stopped working, I intervened and spoke with the players and the Army coach and told them: We represent the African continent. We must show a decent image to the world after what happened in the Africa Cup of Nations final, and it is our duty to play this match. Even without VAR, we should play it,” he said.

Mutual Respect Helped Restore Order

Cardoso added that the attitude of both sets of players and coaching staff made it easier to restore order and continue the game in a positive spirit.

“It is very wonderful to see this mutual understanding between everyone. In conclusion, we exchanged greetings, and the morale of both teams and their strong desire to win ensured that the match would not deviate towards a path we would not want to see,” he continued.

Pride in African Football Standards

The Portuguese coach also used the moment to highlight the quality of African football, insisting that the continent deserves greater respect on the global stage.

“These two clubs can deliver an excellent football performance that makes the coaches proud and Africa proud, because we are showing the world our true selves. I personally wanted people in Portugal, and anywhere else, to see how beautiful football is here, and that the level of the game may be higher than some people think,” he said.

Challenging Global Perceptions

Cardoso further argued that African football is often misunderstood abroad, stressing that it goes beyond physicality and intensity.

“Because the prevailing idea abroad is that football in Africa is based solely on physical contact and intense running, and it is not understood that it may have advanced technical or tactical dimensions. But this is not true, and we must show the world the true picture to prove our presence in the position we deserve,” he concluded.