Miguel Cardoso warns Mamelodi Sundowns not to relax despite first-leg edge over FAR Rabat

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso has urged his side to maintain focus and hunger after edging FAR Rabat 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final, warning that their slender advantage offers no guarantee ahead of the return fixture.

The South African champions claimed a narrow but valuable victory at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, with Aubrey Modiba’s superb free-kick separating the two sides in a tense encounter that reflected the stakes of continental football at its highest level.

However, Cardoso insisted his side’s dominance should have produced a wider cushion, lamenting missed chances that could have placed them in a commanding position before the return leg.

“Five I think it’s a bit too much and eventually not fair, but yeah, we should’ve scored one more goal and create a little bit better advantage and have one foot in the front,” Cardoso told the media.

Cardoso emphasized the importance of carrying momentum into the decisive second leg, warning that Sundowns must not allow their intensity to drop despite the advantage earned at home.

“We need to take the energy into the second match of course so that we can fight for the trophy.” He added that the team must maintain focus for the return fixture where the title will be decided.

“We should not drop any kind of energy because we didn’t score, the moment of decisions are upfront and we need to look at the second match.”

Cardoso’s message underlined the fine margins separating the two sides, with Sundowns aware that their work remains incomplete despite carrying a 1-0 advantage into the second leg against the Moroccan giants.

FAR Rabat, meanwhile, remain within touching distance of the trophy and will look to overturn the deficit at home, where they are expected to apply sustained pressure from the outset.

Sundowns, chasing a second continental crown, will travel knowing that discipline and efficiency in front of goal could prove decisive in determining whether they complete the job or face a renewed challenge from the North African side.

His remarks also reflected the broader experience of Sundowns in continental competitions, where managing leads away from home has often proven as demanding as securing them.

With the tie delicately poised, Cardoso’s call for urgency and control highlights the psychological battle that will accompany the tactical contest in the return leg.