Cardoso urges a strong response from Sundowns in order to make it to the group stage of the CAF Champions League. Mamelodi Sundowns are getting ready for a crucial match against the Angolan team Wiliete SC in the CAF Champions League. The goal of this match is to ensure that Sundowns participate in the group stage of Africa's most prestigious club tournament.

On Friday, October 23, 2026, the Brazilians will play the second leg of their preliminary-round tie against Wiliete at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. They are aware that a victory is essential for them to maintain their chances of achieving their target of playing on the continental level.

Following the conclusion of the first leg of the match, which took place in Angola on Sunday, October 18th, the match ended in a goalless draw, leaving both teams in an equal position prior to the return match. Both teams had difficulty scoring, so Sundowns needs to take advantage of the fact that they are playing at home this time.

Due to the fact that they were unable to capitalize on opportunities during the first game, head coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance and has urged his players to adopt a more aggressive and attacking strategy.

Additionally, the Portuguese coach is of the opinion that his team needs to demonstrate a higher level of determination in the attacking third and demonstrate the quality that is expected from a leading African football club.

Despite the fact that Sundowns created opportunities in Angola, Cardoso observed that they failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities. In addition to this, he acknowledged the difficulty that Wiliete presented, as they demonstrated that they were capable of competing with well-established continental teams.

Wiliete is not to be taken lightly, especially after the manner in which they conducted themselves in the first portion of the match. The South African champions were forced to exert a lot of effort in order to secure a draw because of their physical style and direct attack, which caused difficult circumstances for them. Therefore, when the two teams meet again in Pretoria, Sundowns will need to strike a balance between being patient and having a sense of urgency in their attack.

Despite this, Brazilians have the ability to maintain their optimism. They are able to exert sustained pressure on Wiliete, generate more scoring opportunities, and control the pace of the game when they are playing in front of their home crowd.

Concerns have been raised regarding the fitness of Teboho Mokoena, a midfielder, as he was removed from the field on a stretcher during the first leg of the match due to a new injury to a ligament that had been injured previously. Cardoso keeps his fingers crossed for a speedy recovery, despite the fact that the extent of the injury is still unknown. As the reigning African champions, Sundowns are eager to maintain their position as one of the most successful teams on the continent and to pursue yet another successful campaign. For Sundowns, advancing means more than simply moving on to the next round.

On the other hand, Wiliete will arrive with their own goals and objectives, with the intention of challenging the hosts.

Sundowns are aware that a victory will ensure their qualification, whereas another match that ends in a draw with goals could put their advancement at risk due to the away-goals rule. The first leg of the match ended in a scoreless draw, so Sundowns are aware of this fact.

As Masandawana prepares for a crucial moment in their journey across the continent, all eyes will be on Loftus Versfeld throughout the entire process.

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