Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso urges calm as club brace for crucial CAF Champions League final

Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardoso has urged his Mamelodi Sundowns players to keep their emotions under control ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final first leg against Moroccan giants AS FAR in Pretoria.

With anticipation reaching fever pitch ahead of the showdown at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Cardoso believes composure, concentration and tactical discipline could ultimately determine who lifts Africa’s biggest club prize.

The experienced Portuguese coach, appearing in a third consecutive CAF Champions League final, warned that Sundowns cannot afford lapses in focus against a seasoned AS FAR side capable of punishing even the smallest mistakes across the two-legged affair.

“We will give the best in order to win it,” Cardoso said ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

“It is a moment where we have to do things in the proper way. There is still the second match where everything will be decided and that is the mental state that we are in.”

The Pretoria-based giants enter the final carrying a mixture of belief, expectation and unfinished business.

Despite dominating African football in recent years, Sundowns are still haunted by last season’s heartbreak in the final and are desperate to reclaim the continental crown they last won in 2016.

Cardoso acknowledged the importance of gaining an advantage at home before travelling to Morocco for what is expected to be a hostile second leg in Rabat next weekend.

The Portuguese trainer also pointed to the significance of the away-goals rule, insisting it could heavily influence the tactical approach of both finalists.ue fina

“In the Champions League, the away goals rule is a factor and it is important that we look for a positive result,” he explained.

“Conceding at home has an impact on the away match but we want to make a good game.”

Cardoso believes both clubs fully deserve their place in the final after demonstrating consistency, resilience and quality throughout the campaign.

“There will be moments for everything, we will know very well what we will be looking for and try to find advantages. Both teams are highly capable, that’s why they are on this stage.”

The comments come at a delicate moment for Sundowns, who have recently shown unusual defensive fragility after conceding seven goals in their last two domestic league matches.

However, Cardoso remains convinced his players will rise to the occasion under the lights in Pretoria.

“We will enjoy the occasion, we know what are going to be the challenges and what it means,” he said. “At the same time, we want to live in the moment.”

The former Rio Ave boss also reflected on the remarkable journey that has taken him to back-to-back Champions League finals, describing it as the fulfilment of ambitions he carried when he first moved to African football.

“The journey has been hectic but we feel privileged as the coaching staff, the players and the rest of the club to be in back-to-back Champions League finals,” Cardoso stated.

“When I left Portugal two-and-a-half years ago to come to Africa, we had objectives and dreams. We worked hard to create conditions of working at clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns where we are able to fight for big things.”

The final will also see two Portuguese tacticians go head-to-head, with Cardoso facing compatriot Alexandre Santos on the touchline.

For Sundowns, the mission is straightforward — build a strong lead in Pretoria before stepping into the intense atmosphere awaiting them in Rabat.

But Cardoso understands that at this level, the difference between glory and heartbreak is often painfully small.

“This game will be decided in the second leg in Morocco,” he warned, underlining the fact that Sunday’s encounter may only be the opening chapter of a tense continental battle.