CAF Champions League : Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Issues Early Warning After Beating Pirates' Tormentors Saint Eloi Lupopo

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has labelled their CAF Champions League draw a ‘group of death,’ despite his team kicking off their campaign with a convincing victory.

Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a powerful and energetic performance to open their group stage account, showcasing the quality that makes them one of Africa's most formidable clubs.

A goal from Marcelo Allende and a brace from Nuno Santos secured a comfortable win for the South African giants, who were up against Saint Eloi Lupopo, the Congolese side that silenced Orlando Pirates in the preliminary round.

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However, even with such a dominant start, Cardoso remains pragmatic about the difficult road ahead. He acknowledged that Mamelodi Sundowns have been placed in an exceptionally challenging group.

Group C features formidable opponents, including Rhulani Mokwena’s MC Alger, Al Hilal, and Saint Eloi Lupopo, creating a demanding schedule that will rigorously test Mamelodi Sundowns' consistency and depth.

Miguel Cardoso emphasised that his squad must handle the pressure and maintain complete focus, as every match will be a significant challenge.

Having established a decade-long presence in the Champions League, winning the title in 2016 and reaching last season's final, Mamelodi Sundowns possess a wealth of experience.

Miguel Cardoso believes this background provides the team with the necessary maturity to navigate difficult periods and secure qualification for the knockout stages.

“It’s obviously important to start a group stage with a victory," Cardoso stated as quoted by Hollywood Sports Blog.

"We all remember that last year, when I arrived here, there were two matches played and one point. It’s tough when you lose matches against teams that, theoretically, you have to win, especially at home.”

He added that dropped points can come back to haunt a team later in the competition, as was the case last season. "I expect a very tough group; it’s a group where all matches will be very tough."

Miguel Cardoso confirmed his staff had analysed the other group match between Al-Hilal and MC Alger, noting the quality of their opponents.

"We saw that team have capacity, and only Mamelodi Sundowns at the highest level can cope with those challenges and arrive at the end in the first position, which is what's important."

"So, we take the points with pleasure, obviously it’s important, but we already have things to prepare," he concluded.

"And start working on the next opponent so that we can finish this part of the season in the best way."

Mamelodi Sundowns will be hosted by MC Alger on Friday, November 28, before taking on Al Hilal on January 23, 2026.