CAFCL: ‘Sundowns ready for Lupopo challenge’—Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has declared that his South African side is ready for FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo challenge in Sunday’s CAF Champions League (CAFCL) League group-stage meeting.

The Portuguese mentor, whose performances have come under increasing scrutiny, made the declaration when he addressed the media on Saturday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ahead of the Group C match.

“Lupopo is a very, very strong team at home. We will be ready for the challenge ahead, and we will do everything to get the best possible result, then take stock before the last match,” Cardoso is quoted as saying by FootRDC website.

Sundowns coach not reading too much into Lupopo’s home form*

The coach insisted that he was not reading too much into Lupopo’s 2-0 loss to MC Alger in their last assignment in the tight group. The Congolese team had beaten Rulani Mokwena’s side 1-0 in Lubumbashi before suffering the setback in the return match in Algeria.

Sundowns, according to their coach, will step on TP Mazembe Stadium aware of the hosts solid home record in the Champions League this season. Guy Bukasa’s side remains unbeaten in Lubumbashi, having also held group leaders Al Hilal Omdurman 1-1 and beat Orlando Pirates 30 in the qualifying stages of the competition.

Cardoso insisted that past results do not mean anything in Sunday’s clash, saying Sundowns are a different proposition.

“We are not MC Alger or Al Hilal. We have our own style of play. The match won’t be the same, but the intention could be similar,” he added.

Having won the first leg 3-1 in Pretoria, the Tshwane giants should be looking forward to maintaining their dominance over the Linafoot Ligue 1 champions.

Lupopo occupy bottom place of the group with four points, one behind Sundowns and four points adrift from leaders Al Hilal.

Kick-off will be at 1:00 PM GMT, or 3:00 PM Southern African Time.