Cardoso urges Sundowns to respond after USM Alger Super Cup defeat

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says the club must respond by returning to winning ways after their CAF Super Cup defeat by USM Alger.

The loss follows Sundowns’ failure to reach the CAF Champions League group stages, having been beaten by Wiliete SC. It was the first time in more than a decade that the club had failed to qualify for the competition’s group phase.

Sundowns began the 2026/27 season as champions of Africa, but their recent continental setbacks have raised questions about the squad and its ability to compete among the elite clubs on the continent.

Cardoso said the decisive factor against USM Alger was the difference between the chances each side created and converted.

“We made mistakes that were penalised by goals, there wasn’t much actions from USMA, the difference was the level of profit they had from what they created, compared to what we didn’t take from what we created,” he said.

The Sundowns manager also pointed to the difficult conditions after heavy rain affected the pitch in the second half, although he stressed that the weather could not be used as an excuse.

“When I saw the conditions of the pitch in the second half, I knew it would be tough for us, it was not easy to play [with the rain], it was catastrophic, but it’s not excuses. I think we had bad luck to get the sparkle to get us back in the match.

“We then went down by two goals on counter attack and then there’s the emotions that follow, we tried, we knew USMA had character as a North African team – it became tricky, congratulations to USMA, the players and the club.”

Sundowns will now have a two-and-a-half week break during the FIFA international break. They will also have no continental football on their calendar for the remainder of the season.

Cardoso said the club’s immediate priority was to use the setback as motivation and find a way forward.

“There’s always something to learn from negatives, I don’t see another way forward, we wanted to win this,” he said.

The Portuguese manager recalled a previous match he played at the same venue with Esperance, when Sundowns had dominated before rain caused a delay and prevented them from showing their best.

“You remember the match I played here a few years ago [with Esperance], Sundowns dominated, and then there was the rain that delayed, and it was not conditions for Sundowns to show the best they have.

“Results like this bring you down to the floor, but only one way to react, we have challenges in the short-term, that’s how big teams get out of it. It’s not disaster or catastrophe, there’s no losers in this. I won’t say who was the better team.”