CAFCL: Cardoso says Sundowns aware of Lupopo’s unique challenge

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted they face a unique challenge when they take on DR Congo outfit Saint-Éloi Lupopo in their matchday one of the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

The South African champions will open their Group C campaign with the first match taking place at home.

“First match of the Group Stage, obviously every match will have a story, but we have to write the right one on this one,” Cardoso said as quoted by CAFOnline.com.

“First home match, a good start is important, so we will work hard and we’ve been working very hard since we finished the last match towards arriving on the best conditions, on the best moment possible

Sundowns aims to make a good start

Asked whether he had studied Lupopo heading into the game, he said: “Most of all, we must understand how to play against this team. It has its particularities, its way of playing, its own characteristics, so that we understand how to exploit their less strong things and how to avoid that they can aggress us with the things that they have as more positive.

“We remember very well what happened last year on the first game of the group stage where Mamelodi Sundowns was not able to beat Maniema at home. And from there, how that hunted a little bit the team throughout all the group stage.”

He concluded: “We want to make a good start. A good start is on the whistle of the referee and the players that are available and that can start that match will be, for sure, very, very strong and very powerful on going and pursuing the result we want to get.”

Sundowns will also face Al-Hilal, and MC Alger in group matches.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.