Sundowns won’t be intimidated by big-money Al Ahli, says Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says his troops will set the tone in their Fifa Africa-Asia-Pacific Cup match against Al Ahli on Saturday, insisting they won’t be intimidated by the high-profile names and market value of their opponents.

The two teams will clash at Loftus Versfeld in the second round of the Intercontinental competition as representatives of their respective continents, after Sundowns won the CAF Champions League and Ahli bagged the AFC Champions League last season.

Granted, Sundowns are set to be high on morale – as they’ll be buoyed by Masandawana in the stands and are unbeaten in all competitions since the start of the season. However, despite Ahli blowing hot and cold since the start of the campaign, they remain favorites due to their profile, which includes playing in the Saudi Arabian Pro League.

Speaking during the pre-match media briefing at the club’s base in Chloorkop on Friday, Cardoso painted a picture of the game they expect in the nation’s capital.

“We should expect a match that we will dictate according to the level of our performance,” Cardoso said. “We need to be top of the top. Al Ahli is a powerhouse, but budget doesn’t play. Otherwise, if it did, we would be eight-year-olds, and they’d be 80.

“As soon as the referee blows the whistle, what will decide the result is the effort and quality of play both teams produce. We need to be 100% focused – 99% won’t be enough.”

Indeed, Ahli will prove to be tough opponents, boasting high-profile names in their squad like England international Ivan Toney and Édouard Mendy, who won multiple trophies with Chelsea in the English Premier League.

“Those players can decide the game in a single situation,” said Cardoso, adding that they have also analysed the Saudi league. “We experienced that when we played Al Hilal during pre-season. They were very quick – out of two counter-attacks, we conceded two goals. We need to control everything.”

Competing in this tournament brings immense pride to Sundowns. They know they worked hard to win the Champions League to reach this stage, which is why Cardoso emphasised that they are representing more than just the club.

“I think everybody understands that this goes beyond the Club World Cup,” Cardoso said. “This is not a democratic competition where you have a lot of teams playing. It’s a very high standard, and Sundowns put their name on the map. It’s a moment that should unite South Africa to enjoy the possibility of winning the trophy.

“It’s not often that an African champion earns the right to reach this level. As a club, the players and coaching staff feel very proud to be here. We don’t want to just participate – we want to compete at the highest level.”