Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed how a foundation of unwavering belief and tactical discipline helped his side knock defending champions Al Ahly out of the CAF Champions League at the semi-final stage.
The two-legged affair saw the South African giants hold the Red Devils to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld before securing a dramatic 1-1 result in Cairo on Friday night — a result that sent Sundowns through to the final on the away goals rule.
The Pretoria-based outfit was trailing in the second leg after Al Ahly took the lead, but a late own goal from Yasser Ibrahim crushed the hopes of the Egyptian faithful and sealed Masandawana’s place in the final.
Speaking to SABC Sport after the match, Cardoso emphasized that it was his team’s unity and trust that proved decisive against one of the continent’s toughest opponents.
“Trust — complete trust,” he said. “Trust in the way we've shared this journey, trust in each other’s quality, trust in the match strategy we created, and trust that even after going down 1-0, we could still come back and score.”
Cardoso also highlighted the wider support system around the club, pointing to the backing from the board, families, and the club’s passionate supporters.
“Trust in our fans in South Africa — we draw strength from that brotherhood,” he added.
The atmosphere at the Cairo International Stadium was intense, with 75,000 fans in full voice, and emotions boiling over as Al Ahly’s hopes faded late in the game. Cardoso, however, remained calm, stating that he wasn’t surprised by the hosts’ approach.
“If you look at their last nine games against Sundowns, they haven’t managed a win,” he said. “They had to be cautious. It was always going to be a tight game.”
The former Esperance coach admitted that his team sacrificed flair for steel in the second half, making tactical changes that allowed them to press forward without losing shape.
“We made several changes to go on the attack. We sacrificed a bit of creativity for more aggression, but we believed in ourselves,” he explained. “We earned this win — we always believed it was possible.”
Sundowns will now face Pyramids FC, who edged past Orlando Pirates in the other semi-final, setting up an all-South Africa vs. Egypt showdown for the title.
The upcoming final promises to be another tactical battle as Cardoso and his men aim to bring the continental trophy back to Pretoria.
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