Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso described his side’s progress to the African Champions League as one of the biggest nights of his career.
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A 1-0 win for Sundowns at home to his former club Esperance of Tunisia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday ensured progress to a second successive final as they won 2-0 on aggregate and will take on Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces in the decider.
“I will never forget that the journey we started and now is exactly the moment to speak about the players, the people that go inside the pitch and make the things happen. A very big thank you,” Cardoso said to his players.
“It has been a wonderful journey together with ups and downs, good moments, bad moments, but mostly very good moments. We are not easy people to work with. We are very demanding, we are very tough and strict and organised, and we push, push, we push.
“I cannot finish this thank you without speaking about our fans, of course. The energy that we feel at home is very important. And it's really important that we keep that energy following us now in the league. We have a match on Wednesday (at home to Stellenbosch), and then on the weekend (against Richards Bay on Sunday), and it's an appeal that we gather energy and follow us throughout the country, wherever we're going to play, so that we can also think about the championship.”
Sundowns have seven league matches and two legs of the Champions League final still to play this season.
“What is a hell of a challenge, but a beautiful thing to do also,” Cardoso said of the imposing schedule.
“I’m so very excited about the moment. Two finals in a row, so I think that was exactly the objective of people that brought us inside the club, to try to create the right energy, the right mindset, the right approach, so that we could be stronger and put the club in the highest level. I think that is exactly where we are now.
“In the last few years, we've been among the most important teams in Africa. We've been doing a hell of a job, a very beautiful job I think, that is a milestone, an unbelievable milestone. That was a dream where we came into Africa that we made as an objective. So we feel very proud. The sense of satisfaction, I think, this night will be one of the best nights of my life, for sure, but I will wake up tomorrow with the energy to continue to work,” the Sundowns coach added.
𝙁𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙇𝙀𝙂 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙅𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙉𝙀𝙔 🙌
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 18, 2026
Masandawana have secured their spot in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL final! This badge. This journey. This moment.👆🔥
Yellow Nation, how are we feeling? Let us know in the comments👇#Sundowns #AreyengMasandawana pic.twitter.com/FnG9635Ekq