Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso is gearing up for a landmark moment as his team prepares to compete at the newly expanded Fifa Club World Cup in the United States later this month. The South African giants, one of four African representatives at the tournament, hope to make a strong impression on the global stage - but without feeling overwhelmed by expectation.
Speaking ahead of the squad’s Sunday departure, Cardoso told Fifa that the Club World Cup represented a major career highlight for him personally and a unique opportunity to showcase African football at its finest.
“After my experience as an assistant coach in Uefa Champions League and Europa League matches, being involved in the Club World Cup is a big achievement,” said Cardoso, who previously qualified for the tournament with Tunisian club Esperance. “For me, it’s a very particular position - a clear highlight in any coach’s career.”
PROUDLY REPRESENTING AFRICA
Cardoso expressed the pride and responsibility he feels representing South Africa and the African continent. While fully aware of the challenge ahead, he emphasized Sundowns’ ambitions to compete fiercely.
“We know we’re one of the biggest teams in Africa, but this is a test to see where we stand on the global stage,” he said. “The mindset here is strong - focused on performance, achieving goals, and winning trophies. We want to understand our level compared to the world’s best.”
TACTICAL CHALLENGES AND TEAM STRENGTH
Facing powerhouse German side Borussia Dortmund in the tournament’s early stages, Cardoso is well aware of the intensity they will encounter.
“Dortmund plays a very high-tempo, aggressive style typical of German football,” he noted. “We’re used to controlling games with high ball possession - around 70 per cent - so this will be a challenge. We have to be mentally ready to adapt to moments without the ball and still push ourselves to compete.”
Cardoso also reflected on how opponents often play defensively against Sundowns, using long balls to bypass their pressure. He believes that to succeed, Sundowns must be a “very complete team” capable of handling varied styles and maintaining their own aggressive approach.
ENCOURAGING JOY AND CONFIDENCE
Above all, Cardoso wants his players to play with freedom and enjoyment, shedding any burden of expectation.
“The worst thing would be to finish a game feeling we didn’t play to our level because we carried unnecessary weight on the pitch,” he said. “Our players should enjoy the experience and express the joy of African football - on and off the pitch.”
He also challenged outdated perceptions of African football as disorganised, pointing to the tactical discipline and quality found in the continent’s top teams.
“This idea that African teams lack organisation, especially defensively, is not true,” Cardoso explained.
“Look at the best teams in South Africa - they are organised and competitive. We want to bring that quality and joy to the Club World Cup and show the world the high level of football Africa has to offer.”