Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Miguel Cardoso, has stated that his team’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Nigerian champions Remo Stars in Abeokuta does not diminish his respect for Nigerian football.
Gossip News Now reports that the South African side produced a dominant performance on Sunday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, inflicting the heaviest home defeat ever suffered by a Nigerian club in continental competition. Despite the lopsided result, Cardoso maintained that his players approached the game with professionalism and respect for their opponents.
“Despite the scoreline, we must respect this team. Remo Stars are the champions of Nigeria, and we respect Nigerian football. Our focus and preparation for this match came from that respect,” Cardoso said after the game.
The Portuguese tactician revealed that Sundowns’ opening goal came from a carefully rehearsed training routine. He explained that Remo Stars’ man-to-man defensive approach required intelligence, quick transitions, and fluid movement to exploit space.
“It’s never easy to play against a team that marks man-to-man across the entire pitch,” he noted. “We had to find the quick breaks, use the third man effectively, and maintain high mobility and accuracy.”
Cardoso praised his players for executing the tactical plan flawlessly and sustaining their intensity throughout the encounter. He acknowledged that while conceding a goal could have been avoided, the final scoreline reflected his team’s hard work and focus.
“The players executed everything we practiced from the first day of preparation,” he said. “Scoring five goals against the Nigerian champions is no small feat, and I’m proud of their discipline and professionalism.”
Looking ahead to the return leg in Pretoria, Cardoso emphasized that Sundowns will not take their commanding advantage for granted.
“The result is big, yes, but respecting football means taking every game seriously,” he stressed. “The tie isn’t over yet. We owe it to ourselves and to the sport to approach the second leg with the same seriousness and intensity.”
He also commended his players’ fitness and mental resilience, noting how they sustained pressure until the final whistle.
“Even at half-time, we spoke about maintaining our energy levels. The players showed great character, fighting until the end to extend the scoreline,” he added.
With a 5-1 lead heading into the return leg on October 26, Mamelodi Sundowns appear firmly on course to advance to the next round of the CAF Champions League qualifiers.
