Cardoso bills Wiliete second leg tie as final

October 21, 2026 40

Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso, has urged his players to approach Friday’s CAF Champions League encounter against Wiliete SC as another final, with a place in the group stage at stake at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

The Brazilians host the Angolan side in the second leg after playing to a goalless draw away from home, leaving the tie delicately poised.

Cardoso says Sundowns have become accustomed to playing high-pressure matches, with every stage of a competition bringing its own challenges.

“We’ve been playing final after final since the season started, and that’s exactly the sense that we have, and it’s the reality,” he said.

“It’s a competition that is settled in stages, and there’s always a point in the different stages where it becomes a final.”

With the first leg ending goalless, Cardoso acknowledged that neither side had gained a clear advantage and that Sundowns would need to deliver on Friday to secure their place in the group stage.

“I see this in that way, two teams that want to move forward and a result away that doesn’t speak for itself.

“There’s no changing of the point, and basically, we’re just playing this one,” he added.

Locked in for the 2nd Leg 🔜

#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #NeverStopRising https://t.co/VyUVRZpxsl

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) October 21, 2026