Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach Miguel Cardoso shared insights on his decision to forgo a traditional striker in the lineup against Al Ahly during the CAF Champions League semi-final’s second leg, a strategy that successfully led his team to the final.
Cardoso’s team secured a spot in the final through the away goals rule after a scoreless first leg, followed by a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Cairo International Stadium on Friday. They are set to face Pyramids FC, who pulled off an unexpected win against Orlando Pirates with a 3-2 aggregate on the same day.
The first leg of the final is set for 24 May, while the return leg will take place on 1 June. Amasandawana is determined to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time since 2016.
Opting for a front three of Lucas Ribeiro Costa, assisted by Thapelo Morena and Tashreeq Matthews, was a surprising move, as regular forwards Igraam Rayners and Peter Shalulile were left on the bench.
The 52-year-old coach explained that this tactical decision stemmed from his assessment of Al Ahly’s formidable central defense.
“This choice reflects the attributes of Al Ahly’s players,” Cardoso remarked.
“We acknowledged that their center backs are strong in physical challenges. Our focus was to exhaust them, find gaps, and emphasize mobility. That was our game plan.”
He further noted, “Naturally, it was challenging to leave out key players like Peter and Igraam, or even Themba [Zwane], from the starting lineup—but football is more about tactical frameworks than individual talent. When players execute the coach’s plans effectively, the game becomes smoother.”
This tactic paid off. When Rayners and Shalulile were introduced later in the game, Al Ahly’s defense, which had initially taken the lead through Taher Mohamed, began to show signs of fatigue. A flick-on from Zwane resulted in Yasser Ibrahim inadvertently scoring an own goal, leveling the match in the dying moments.
This marked Sundowns’ third final appearance in this competition.
“We knew we could bring these players on at key moments, and that’s exactly what we did to inject more intensity into our attack,” Cardoso elaborated.
“We aimed to take advantage of the fatigue shown by their defense. And in football, a bit of luck always plays a role, which I believe we earned. We set the stage for that luck, scored, and then focused on managing the game effectively.”
As the two-legged Champions League final draws near next month, the African powerhouse will shift focus back to their domestic responsibilities, getting ready to host Richards Bay at Loftus Versveld Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday at 19:30.
Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu
