Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up on their CAF Super Cup defeat to USM Alger that follows their recent CAF Champions League exit.
Sundowns came into the 2026/27 season as champions of Africa – but there are now real questions being asked about the squad over the failures in the continental space.
Having lost to Wiliete SC to miss qualification for the CAF Champions League group stages for the first time in over a decade – it’s a real blow to a club, which ranks itself amongst the elite clubs on the continent.
“We made mistakes that were penalised by goals, there wasn’t much actions from USMA, the difference was the level of profit they had from what they created, compared to what we didn’t take from what we created,” he said.
“When I saw the conditions of the pitch in the second half, I knew it would be tough for us, it was not easy to play [with the rain], it was catastrophic, but it’s not excuses. I think we had bad luck to get the sparkle to get us back in the match.
“We then went down by two goals on counter attack and then there’s the emotions that follow, we tried, we knew USMA had character as a North African team – it became tricky, congratulations to USMA, the players and the club.”
Cardoso reiterated that the only reaction needed now, is to get back to winning ways – with the club now heading into a two-and-a-half week break for the FIFA international break and will be without continental football for their calendar for the remainder of the season.
“There’s always something to learn from negatives, I don’t see another way forward, we wanted to win this,” he said.
“You remember the match I played here a few years ago [with Esperance], Sundowns dominated, and then there was the rain that delayed, and it was not conditions for Sundowns to show the best they have.
“Results like this bring you down to the floor, but only one way to react, we have challenges in the short-term, that’s how big teams get out of it. It’s not disaster or catastrophe, there’s no losers in this. I won’t say who was the better team.”