Miguel Cardoso admits Sundowns were punished for mistakes against USM Alger

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted his side failed to make the most of their opportunities in the CAF Super Cup defeat by USM Alger, insisting that their opponents were more clinical in front of goal.

The South African club suffered a disappointing loss to the Algerian side, adding to a difficult period in continental competition after their early elimination from the CAF Champions League.

Sundowns had started the 2026/27 campaign as African champions but have since experienced two significant setbacks on the continent. Their Champions League group-stage exit followed a defeat by Wiliete SC, ending a run of more than 10 years in which they had consistently reached the competition’s knockout stages.

Speaking after the Super Cup defeat, Cardoso acknowledged that his players created opportunities but were unable to convert them into goals. He believes the difference between the two sides was their ability to take advantage of the chances that came their way.

“We made mistakes which were punished by goals. USMA were not very active; the difference lay in the level of profit they derived from their creations, compared to what we did not derive from ours ,” he said.

The Portuguese coach also pointed to the difficult conditions during the second half, when heavy rainfall affected the playing surface and made it increasingly difficult for both teams to play their usual football.

However, Cardoso refused to blame the weather for his team’s defeat, admitting that Sundowns needed to find a way to respond despite the challenging circumstances.

“When I saw the state of the pitch in the second half, I knew it was going to be difficult for us. Playing in the rain wasn’t easy. It was catastrophic, but that’s not an excuse. I think we were just unlucky enough to find the spark that would have allowed us to get back into the game.”

He also explained how Sundowns were punished on the counter-attack as they attempted to recover from the situation, praising USM Alger for their determination and competitive mentality.

“We then conceded two goals on the counter-attack, and with everything else, there were all the emotions that entailed. We gave it our all; we knew that USMA had character as a North African team. The task proved difficult. Congratulations to USMA, the players, and the club.”

The defeat means Sundowns have now finished their continental commitments for the season. The club will have a two-and-a-half-week break during the FIFA international window before turning their attention to their remaining challenges.

Cardoso admitted that the result was disappointing but urged his players to take lessons from the experience rather than allow the setback to affect their progress.

“We can always learn from failures, I don’t see any other solution, we wanted to win ,” he said.

The coach also recalled a previous encounter at Loftus Versfeld during his time in charge of Espérance, when heavy rain had similarly affected the conditions and prevented Sundowns from displaying their best football.

“You remember the match I played here a few years ago [with Espérance]. The Sundowns dominated, then the rain interrupted the game. The conditions weren’t ideal for the Sundowns to show their best.”

Despite the latest disappointment, Cardoso insisted that the team must respond positively and concentrate on the challenges ahead. He believes overcoming difficult moments is part of what separates successful teams from the rest.

“Results like this are demoralizing, but there’s only one way to react: we have short-term challenges to overcome, that’s how great teams succeed. It’s neither a disaster nor a catastrophe, there are no losers. I won’t say which team was the best.”

For Sundowns, the immediate priority will be to recover from the continental setbacks and use the lessons from their defeat against USM Alger as they prepare for their next assignments.