‘Great empires always come from ashes’ – Cardoso rallies Sundowns after shock CAF Champions League exit

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has urged his players to use their shocking CAF Champions League elimination as motivation to rebuild, insisting that the club’s response to adversity will define the remainder of their season.

The South African giants suffered a humiliating early exit from the continental competition after being held to a 1-1 draw by Angola’s Wiliete Sport Clube de Benguela in Pretoria, having played out a goalless stalemate in the first leg. Wiliete progressed to the next round on the away-goals rule, leaving the defending champions facing an unexpected setback.

The elimination represents a significant disappointment for Sundowns, who entered the competition as reigning champions and had been expected to secure a place in the group stage.

However, Cardoso has challenged his players to draw lessons from the defeat rather than allow the disappointment to derail their campaign, using historical examples to underline his belief that difficult moments can provide the foundation for a fresh beginning.

“Great empires always come from ashes,” the Portuguese tactician said.

“It was like that after the First World War. After the Second World War, it was the same. Many come from that. Today (Friday) was a dark night, but it’s the dark that has to give us the purpose and energy to build more. Maybe it’s an important lesson to look ahead. Like I usually say, we are not defined by what happens to us. We are defined much more by how we react to what happens to us.”

Cardoso’s remarks reflect the challenge facing Sundowns as they attempt to recover from one of their most disappointing continental results in recent years.

The Brazilians had established themselves as one of Africa’s dominant clubs, making their elimination particularly difficult to accept. The result also ended their remarkable run of consecutive appearances in the CAF Champions League group stage, which had stretched back to 2015.

The coach acknowledged the magnitude of the setback, admitting that the disappointment would be felt throughout the club, particularly given Sundowns’ recent success and their ambitions to remain competitive at the highest level of African football.

Cardoso also highlighted the personal impact of the defeat, having guided his team to three consecutive Champions League finals, according to his post-match comments.

“We obviously cannot forget what it means to be eliminated from the Champions League. It’s hard for the club and the coaches – and you can imagine for myself, it’s harder after being in the final for three years in a row. It’s hard for a club that was supposed to be in the group stage for the 12th time in a row,” he added.

Despite the disappointment, the Sundowns boss insists that the season is far from over and has reminded his players that several trophies remain available to them.

“There are a lot of trophies still to challenge for,” Cardoso said.

His message comes with little time for the team to dwell on the continental disappointment, as Sundowns prepare for an immediate return to domestic action.

The Brazilians are scheduled to host Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, October 27, in the last 16 of the Carling Knockout, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

The encounter offers Sundowns an opportunity to respond on the pitch and begin rebuilding confidence after their unexpected Champions League exit.

For Cardoso, the priority will be to ensure that the setback becomes a turning point rather than a defining moment in the club’s campaign. His challenge is to restore belief within the squad, address the shortcomings exposed against Wiliete and keep the team focused on the remaining competitions.

Sundowns’ elimination has delivered a painful reminder that past achievements and continental pedigree offer no guarantees of future success. However, Cardoso believes the team’s character will ultimately be measured by how it responds to adversity.

With domestic silverware still within reach, the Portuguese coach will be hoping his players can transform their disappointment into renewed determination and give the club’s supporters a reason to believe again.