Miguel Cardoso Faces Pressure at Sundowns After CAF Champions League Heartbreak
Mamelodi Sundowns’ exit from the CAF Champions League final has cast an intense spotlight on the future of head coach Miguel Cardoso, with comparisons already being drawn to the abrupt exits of former tacticians Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi under similar circumstances.
Sundowns fell 3-2 on aggregate to Egypt’s Pyramids FC in the final at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday, extinguishing hopes of clinching their second continental title since their historic 2016 triumph. The defeat has triggered an emotional response from fans and former players, many of whom are now questioning whether Cardoso has done enough to remain at the helm.
The result mirrors past disappointments that led to managerial changes—most notably last season when Mokwena was relieved of his duties despite winning the DStv Premiership and reaching the Champions League semi-finals. The club’s unforgiving pursuit of continental dominance has often left little room for patience.
Speaking after the defeat, former club player and vocal supporter Sello ‘Page’ Mahlangu did not mince his words.
“The ship sunk yesterday. It’s back to square one. At the moment, there is no life at Chloorkop anymore,” he said.
Mahlangu criticized the team’s performance, noting that the tactical approach lacked identity and failed to deal with Pyramids’ well-drilled defensive setup.
“Yesterday we were not representing our own identity of football… his [Cardoso’s] philosophy was not matching Pyramids in terms of unlocking them,” he added.
He also raised concerns about Sundowns’ inability to dominate possession, a cornerstone of the club’s philosophy in recent years.
“We knew from the start they were going to defend with six people, but still we couldn’t dominate… that showed our coach is beginning to have limitations in his tactics,” Mahlangu continued.
As the dust settles, the focus now turns to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, where Sundowns will represent South Africa on the global stage. But for some, the tournament may serve as Cardoso’s final audition.
“If he cannot win the Champions League, then he must move aside,” Mahlangu argued. “Our previous coaches were shown the door because they failed to win this and that, so if it’s the culture of the team, then let it continue to show there is continuity.”
He further urged the club’s leadership to maintain consistency in how coaches are judged, emphasizing that performance—not nationality or background—should be the key factor.
“The decisions must not be made based on race. We should be consistent… that would be fair to our former coaches,” he said.
Cardoso was brought in with a clear mandate: deliver the Champions League title. While he will now have the opportunity to lead the team at the Club World Cup, the disappointment of the final defeat has already sparked doubts about his long-term future at Chloorkop.
With Sundowns known for setting high standards, the coming weeks may prove critical for Cardoso, as management assesses whether he remains the right figure to guide the club to its continental and global ambitions.
