Cardoso on the cusp of following in Mosimane’s footsteps

Mamelodi Sundowns have taken a major step to ending an eight-season pursuit of a second Caf Champions League crown. 

A victory in the home first leg of the final on May 24 against Pyramids will set the Chloorkop-based club closer to conquering the continent in the return leg in Cairo on June 1.

Miguel Cardoso’s men advanced on an away goal rule after Friday night’s a 1-1 draw with holders and record 12-time champions Al Ahly to set up a titanic clash with Egyptian log leaders Pyramids, who twice came from behind to beat 1995 winners Orlando Pirates 3-2 and crush dreams of a historic all-South African final in Caf's prestigious premier inter-club competition. 

Ahly defender Yasser Ibrahim deflected the ball into his own net in the 90th minute to nullify a 24th minute lead from an outstanding strike by Mohamed Taher. 

Cardoso said resilience, patience and trust carried Sundowns throughout the intense game inside the packed Cairo International cauldron.

“The team believed, and sometimes you have to go for your luck. There was a lot of trust inside the pitch; it’s one of the values we have in the team,” Cardoso said, explaining how he kept his side focused against an Ahly team whose 75,000 vociferous fans were only silenced when Iqraam’s ball was deflected in by Ibrahim on the stroke of full-time. 

The team believed, and sometimes you have to go for your luck. There was a lot of trust inside the pitch; it’s one of the values we have in the team 

—  Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach

“Even in difficult moments, we felt the support of our fans. We’re now going to experience this (final) after so many years for the club. We obviously need to win (the final) to be at the top,” said Cardoso.

Sundowns, who lost to Ahly in the 2001 final, are now on the cusp of becoming the first South African club to win the holy grail for the second time. 

Cardoso engineered Sundowns’ semifinal exit by Esperance last season and lost in the final as the Tunisian side fell to Ahly in the final. Going into Friday’s game, the Portuguese mentor was under immense pressure to ensure Sundowns avoided another last-four elimination.

Cardoso now stands two matches away from following in the footsteps of Pitso Mosimane, who captured the 2016 crown. Manqoba Mngqithi/Rulani Mokwena (co-coaches) and Mokwena have all tried to win a second star for Sundowns but all have never come close to where Sundowns are now with Cardoso, who took over the reins from Mngqithi in December.

Cardoso will be favourite to outfox Pyramids’ Croatian-born coach Krunoslav Jurcic.

Jurcic has been masterful in masterminding the 17-year-old club’s maiden appearance in the premier competition. That Pyramids hardly command support in the Egyptian capital bodes well for Cardoso, who should have a sold-out crowd backing his team in the first leg, which is likely to be at Loftus Stadium on May 24.

Cardoso will also have the advantage of a deeper understanding of what it takes to play in a Champions League final, having tasted defeat with Esperance against Ahly last season.

Meanwhile, Pirates were gutted by their loss to Pyramids. The defeat was hard to take, especially by their young players Relebohile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota, whose goals on Friday came close to booking them a place in the final. 

Pirates players were desperate to win this trophy as part of a resounding send-off for their departing coach Jose Riveiro, the man they have won five domestic trophies with since he joined the club in 2022. The Spaniard now has the Betway Premiership and Nedbank Cup as two possible trophies to add to the MTN8 he has already won for the third successive time this season.

Pirates have to win their last eight league matches, including the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, to have a chance of catching Sundowns in the league. Riveiro’s team will also have to beat Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final in Durban on May 10 to at least be assured of a cup double, to complete what has been a remarkable season.