Mamelodi Sundowns lose defender Thapelo Morena for high-stake Champions League clash against Stade Malien

Head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso has confirmed the unavailability of enterprising defender Thapelo Morena for their CAF Champions League quarterfinals first leg clash against Stade Malien.

The defender is carrying injury, making him unavailable for the high-stake clash tie at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. He sustained the injury during Sundowns’ Premier Soccer League match against Orbit College FC last Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists ahead of the continental clash, Cardoso confirmed that the versatile defender will not be available for selection.

“I don’t know if you saw, but Thapelo Morena will not be available for this match,” Cardoso said.

The Portuguese tactician also expressed frustration over the incident that led to the injury, drawing comparisons to a recent disciplinary decision involving Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams.

According to Cardoso, Adams was previously shown a red card in a league game against Golden Arrows for a similar challenge, while the tackle that left Morena injured during the match against Orbit College went unpunished.

“Jayden Adams, in the match against Golden Arrows, got a red card for the same action that happened against Orbit with Morena, and he got injured,” Cardoso explained.

“He’s not available to play, so we don’t have Thapelo Morena in the match or even on the bench. But that Orbit player got nothing, so we had to continue playing against 11.”

Cardoso admitted that he rarely speaks publicly about injuries caused by opponents, but felt compelled to address the situation due to what he described as the seriousness of the incident.

“Regarding Thapelo, it was the first time I spoke about a player getting injured because we really felt the approach given in that situation was not proper,” he added.

Morena’s absence represents a significant blow for Sundowns as they look to secure a positive result in the first leg of their CAF Champions League tie. The experienced defender has been an important part of the squad’s defensive setup and his versatility often provides the team with additional tactical options.

Despite the setback, Sundowns remain determined to deliver a strong performance in front of their home supporters as they aim to take an advantage into the return leg against the Malian side.