Sundowns warned Wiliete SC will demand ‘important final’ preparation

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says his side must treat Wiliete SC with the same seriousness as a major final as they attempt to reach the Champions League group stages for a 10th consecutive year.

The defending champions were held to a goalless draw by the Angolan club in Lubango on Sunday, leaving Wiliete with a realistic chance of producing a major upset in the second leg in Pretoria.

Sundowns have reached the group stages in every edition since 2016. Their last failure came in 2015, when TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo eliminated them 3-2 on aggregate.

Cardoso believes Wiliete’s form and defensive record underline the threat facing his team. The visitors have won five and drawn one of their opening six matches in Angola’s top-flight Girabola, conceding only two goals.

“The level of preparation we are going to put in is the same as for an important final,” Cardoso said before the second leg.

“I don’t look at the fact that we drew away as a negative and I am saying that with all due respect. The last time Sundowns played against Petro de Luanda from Angola, they were knocked out of the Champions League [in the 2021-22 quarterfinals].

“This team is on top of the log in Angola, they have conceded only two goals in the matches they have played. They are as qualified as the team of Petro Luanda.

“I said it when the draw came out that it was not a kind one for us but Sundowns will stand for its level. We arrived in Angola and produced a result that puts us in the match and we just need to finish it.”

Wiliete impressed during the first leg and Cardoso said Sundowns would be taking nothing for granted, insisting that continental football rarely provides straightforward matches.

“It is not going to be easy because there are no easy things in the Champions League. If we think it’s going to be easy, we would be misjudging the situation.

“I think there have been difficult qualification round matches in the past and we have to fight for it. We are gathering the energy, mentality and connection and we will find the best ones to start the match and those who are going to help us to finish it and we will move forward from there.”

Cardoso also identified several qualities that make Wiliete dangerous, including their pace in attack, strength through the centre and disciplined defensive structure.

“They have quick players in the front. This team needs to be respected and I showed that respect to them from the beginning,” he said.

“[Having said that] I don’t want my players to show too much respect to anyone inside the four lines. That will mean respect for ourselves is higher than what you have for the opponents. It is just when you recognise the weaknesses of the opponents that you can exploit them.

“They have quick players, they can use the wings to attack, they have energy in the middle, they have centrebacks that are stable.

“They don’t overlap a lot on the sides and they can play a good zonal game.”