Miguel Cardoso, Head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns during the CAF Champions League 2025/26 Mamelodi Sundowns press conference at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on 22 January 2026 ©Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
Friday Jan 23, 2026. 13:00
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso stated there is no pressure on his side ahead of the CAF Champions League clash with Al-Hilal S.C. at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday.
The Brazilians sit atop group C, level on points with their Sudanese opposition but ahead by one goal on goal difference.
Both sides have managed one victory and one draw in their two games in the competition.
“Nothing will be decided tomorrow,” said Cardoso, speaking at the pre-match press conference.
“Obviously, a good result from our side gives us a good position in the competition.
“Big respect by the team of Alil Al. It’s a team with a lot of resources. Just take a look at how many players they have in the [Sudanese] national team. So we know the responsibility of this match.
“We know how the opponent plays, what they can do, but we know very, very well what we can do, what we want, the capacity we have and how we have to approach the match with the responsibility, obviously, of it, but with the same level of motivation, of power, of energy, of will, of desire, of commitment and following the plan of the game until the end,” he said.
The two sides have met on six previous occasions, with Masandawana claiming four wins to go alongside two draws.
Despite the South Africa side’s domination in past meetings, Cardoso said the history between the two clubs has no bearing on the upcoming clash.
“I have to confess that we don’t look at history. History belongs to the past. The history we need to worry about is the one we have to write,” the Portuguese tactician stated.
While Ronwen Williams was the only Bafana Bafana player to feature in Sundowns’ match against Orbit College on Monday, Cardoso revealed that the club’s other national team representatives are in contention for Friday’s fixture.
By Nic Gleeson