Miguel Cardoso credits preparation as Mamelodi Sundowns inch closer to the CAF group stages

Mamelodi Sundowns’ impressive performance in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round has given the club a timely boost in momentum, with their qualification for the group stages now within reach.

The Brazilians will take plenty of confidence into the second leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium this coming weekend, following their commanding 5-1 victory over Remo Stars on Sunday.

Their experience once again proved vital, and having dominated the domestic league for the past eight years, Sundowns have faced numerous challenges across the African continent, with that exposure helping them dispatch the Nigerian champions with ease.

The emphatic win not only gives them the upper hand going into the second leg but also offers a platform to build a strong run of results. With international football now concluded, Sundowns has the opportunity to establish consistency and rhythm.

“Respect” was a recurring theme as Cardoso reflected on the result, noting that while such a large margin of victory wasn’t expected, their disciplined approach and refusal to take anything for granted gave them the edge heading into the second leg.

“I didn’t expect that we would win by five goals. Cardoso commented.

“We never knew what we were coming for, but we managed to sustain the attitude we had, and that is why we were able to get the result we got.”

The Portuguese coach entered the tie seeking a positive response after the international break, which followed a Carling Knockout defeat to Marumo Gallants (7-6) on penalties. He explained that his extensive research into the Nigerian Premier Football League champions paid off, as his team knew exactly what to expect.

“The result in the first leg came from the respect we had and the studying we did about Remo Stars,” he continued.

“We managed to see six matches from the Nigerian side, not only their two qualifying matches in the Champions League first preliminary round.

“I even went to see last year’s clash against AS FAR, and that’s the study and commitment you need to have when you play this kind of match. If you don’t study such teams, you will be surprised. You need to give them maximum respect, and that is what we did.

“We don’t see this as finished—we will have to have the same approach in the second leg.”

Cardoso also had to manage a challenging preparation period, with several key players away on international duty for Bafana Bafana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

With limited time to prepare before the first leg, the Portuguese coach will be pleased that their domestic fixture against Sekhukhune United was postponed, allowing his players additional recovery time ahead of this weekend's clash.

“We went into the first leg three days before the match because we knew we needed to rest our players.

“Despite them having had a wonderful story written after they helped Bafana Bafana qualify for the World Cup, they still understood the commitment they had to have with Sundowns—the club they represent—and that is the commitment we need to have at all times.”