Mamelodi Sundowns will not be overawed by Al Ahli’s wealth, says Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says his side will not be intimidated by Al Ahli’s expensive squad or high-profile players when the teams meet in the Fifa Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup on Saturday.

The South African club face the Saudi Arabian Pro League side at Loftus Versfeld in the second round of the Intercontinental competition. Sundowns qualified as CAF Champions League winners, while Al Ahli reached the fixture after claiming the AFC Champions League last season.

Sundowns go into the match unbeaten in all competitions since the beginning of the season and will have strong support from Masandawana in the stands. Al Ahli, despite an inconsistent start to their campaign, are regarded as favourites because of their reputation and status in the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

Speaking at a pre-match media briefing at the club’s Chloorkop base on Friday, Cardoso said the outcome would depend on performance rather than financial power.

“We should expect a match that we will dictate according to the level of our performance,” Cardoso said. “We need to be top of the top. Al Ahli is a powerhouse, but budget doesn’t play. Otherwise, if it did, we would be eight-year-olds, and they’d be 80.

“As soon as the referee blows the whistle, what will decide the result is the effort and quality of play both teams produce. We need to be 100% focused – 99% won’t be enough.”

Al Ahli have several players capable of influencing the game, including England international Ivan Toney and Edouard Mendy, who won multiple trophies with Chelsea in the English Premier League.

Cardoso acknowledged the threat posed by those individuals, while also pointing to Sundowns’ experience of facing Saudi opposition.

“Those players can decide the game in a single situation,” he said, adding that his team had studied the Saudi league. “We experienced that when we played Al Hilal during pre-season. They were very quick – out of two counter-attacks, we conceded two goals. We need to control everything.”

The fixture also carries significance for Sundowns because their CAF Champions League success earned them the opportunity to compete at this level. Cardoso said the team’s presence represented South Africa as well as the club.

“I think everybody understands that this goes beyond the Club World Cup,” Cardoso said. “This is not a democratic competition where you have a lot of teams playing. It’s a very high standard, and Sundowns put their name on the map. It’s a moment that should unite South Africa to enjoy the possibility of winning the trophy.

“It’s not often that an African champion earns the right to reach this level. As a club, the players and coaching staff feel very proud to be here. We don’t want to just participate – we want to compete at the highest level.”