Cardoso ready to break Al Ahly hearts in Cairo

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Apr 23, 2025. 13:00

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes they can come out on top in Cairo to deny Al Ahly a sixth straight CAF Champions League final appearance.

Bafana ba Style were held to a 0-0 draw by the defending champions in the first leg of their semi-final tie at Loftus Versfeld on April 19, which produced very few clear-cut chances.

The Red Eagles came closest to breaking the deadlock when Nejc Gradisar struck the frame of the goal with a header just before half-time, while they had the ball in the back of the net on two occasions, only for the offside flag to cut short their celebrations.

The Brazilians have only failed to score away from home in the competition twice this season – against Raja Casablanca in the group stages and ES Tunis in the quarter-finals – but Cardoso is confident they can get at least one away goal at the Cairo International Stadium on Friday.

“We didn’t score in the first leg, but we are ready for the second,” the Portuguese tactician said. “I believe we can finish the job in Cairo.

“Ahly and Sundowns are the best teams in Africa. One will reach the final, the other will miss out I hope we are strong enough to come out on top.”

Both semi-finals are delicately poised as Orlando Pirates played out to a goalless stalemate with Pyramids in the first leg, meaning the final could still end up being an all-South African affair or an all-Egyptian one.