Cardoso: Mamelodi scores at any time.

The coach of the South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, Miguel Cardoso, considered that the 1-0 victory over the Royal Army team today, Sunday, in Pretoria, in the first leg of the 2025-2026 African Champions League final, "is not enough, although it represents a moral boost for the return match in Rabat with greater energy and momentum."

Cardoso praised the technical value of the match during a press conference following the game, emphasizing his team's ability to score "at any time and in any stadium," a feature shared with the Royal Army club "which also demonstrated strong attacking organization."

The speaker confirmed that the upcoming strategy will not abandon the team's usual style, while it is necessary to deal intelligently with the opponent. He added that "in the return match, our focus will be on maintaining our football identity and our usual style of play, but with more respect for the Royal Army club, which has proven to be a fierce competitor with the qualities of a champion."

He explained that both teams displayed high technical and tactical levels and a tactical performance that reflects their technical value.

He also called on the refereeing teams responsible for the video technology to present a professional model that embodies the development of African football and ensures the integrity of the competition, referring to the stoppage that occurred at the beginning of the second half due to a technical malfunction in the VAR system.

Conversely, he praised the civilized scenes and the exchange of greetings between the players of both teams after the final whistle, considering that these noble behaviors reflect what makes the African continent proud of its football and sports achievements in front of the world.