Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is thrilled to be back in Tunisia to face Espérance de Tunis, where he forged fond memories and strong relationships, but his focus is on helping his side take an advantage into the CAF Champions League semi-final second leg.
Sundowns face Esperance in the first leg at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis on Sunday night (9pm kick-off). This is a club and venue Cardoso knows well. During his stint with Esperance, he won the league title and reached the Champions League final, including eliminating Sundowns 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Cardoso’s Experience with Esperance
His exploits that season earned him a move to Sundowns after leaving the Tunisian giants. He has since made his mark with the Brazilians, winning the league and reaching the Champions League final last season, including overcoming Esperance 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
According to the CAF Champions League format, the winner of the tournament will be determined by a two-legged aggregate score. Cardoso is understandably focused on the match, with this a crucial campaign for him in the Champions League. He will be eager to go one step further after back-to-back final defeats in recent seasons.
Preparations for the Match
The Portuguese coach has urged his players to stick to the game plan and preparations to secure a positive result away from home. “It’s an important match, but it’s the first of two and nothing will be decided here,” he said. “We need to understand how best to approach a game with a special context and style.
Here are some key points to consider for the match:
- The history between the two sides, with Cardoso expecting another tightly contested encounter over both legs in Tunis and Pretoria next Saturday.
- The importance of tactical approach and consistency throughout the match.
- The need for the players to focus on the game plan and not be influenced by the atmosphere.
As the Confederation of African Football continues to grow and develop, the CAF Champions League remains one of the most prestigious tournaments in African football.
