Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso will get another shot at leading the Premier Soccer League champions to CAF Champions League glory, after booking a place in the final, not once or twice, but for the third consecutive time.
Cardoso’s first Champions League final was with Esperance in 2024, followed by the one last season, where he lost both finals. He will now be involved in his third Champions League final and will be relying on the common idiom of “third time’s a charm” this season.
Sundowns convincingly beat Tunisian giants Esperance 2-0 on aggregate, following their 1-0 victories away and at home, respectively.
Yesterday, it was the lethal Colombian international striker Brayan Leon who scored the only goal of the match when he scored from a rebound of his missed penalty in the first half.
Following last season’s heartbreak, where they missed out on a second star when they lost to Egyptian outfit Pyramids, Cardoso and his troops will surely leave no stone unturned in winning the final this time around against a Moroccan outfit.
Cardoso is also one game away from levelling the club’s all-time match-winning record set by former coach Rulani Mokwena in the PSL, who won 11 consecutive games in his final season at the club in 2024, where they went on to win the league with a record 73 points.
Next up in the league for the Brazilians will be a home match against Stellenbosch FC at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday.
Should Sundowns win, they will return to the top of the Betway Premiership standings ahead of Orlando Pirates, who overtook them after their win against AmaZulu yesterday at the Orlando Stadium.
Masandawana are also right on track to retain their league title for the unprecedented ninth time, having won it eight times on a trot. They are enjoying a 10-match winning streak in the Betway Premiership and could take it to 11 with a win over Rise and Shine midweek.
- Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has guided the team to the CAF Champions League final again.
- This marks the third consecutive time Sundowns have reached the final under his leadership.
- The team is the reigning Premier Soccer League champions.
- Cardoso is set for another chance to secure continental glory with Sundowns.
- Full details are available in the Sunday World e-edition.
Mamelodi
Cardoso’s first Champions League final was with Esperance in 2024, followed by the one last season, where he lost both finals. He will now be involved in his third Champions League final and will be relying on the common idiom of “third time’s a charm” this season.
Yesterday, it was the lethal
Cardoso is also one game away from levelling the club’s all-time match-winning record set by former coach Rulani Mokwena in the PSL, who won 11 consecutive games in his final season at the club in 2024, where they went on to win the league with a record 73 points.
Next up in the league for the Brazilians will be a home match against Stellenbosch FC at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday.
