Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso hailed the spirit of his side after they secured a 2-1 victory over Asian champions Al Ahli at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Nuno Santos scored twice as Sundowns advanced to the Challenger Cup, producing a memorable performance against the Saudi Arabian club.
Cardoso dedicated the victory to the late Jayden Adams, saying the former Sundowns player was with the team in spirit during the match. He also referenced injured defender Khuliso Mudau as he urged his players to embrace the significance of the occasion.
“In this moment, let’s look in the sky and embrace our brother Jayden Adams,” Cardoso told SuperSport. “It’s his soul today that gave us the strength.”
The Portuguese coach then called on his players to combine humility with the determination that has become a feature of his team.
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“I said I want Sundowns on the pitch today and we had it,” he said. “Respect what’s happening on the pitch, fight harder to have the ball, be humble for that but be proud to be yourselves.”
Cardoso also reserved praise for the supporters who created an electric atmosphere at Loftus, along with Sundowns chairman and everyone connected with the club.
“Thank you very much Mamelodi Sundowns, this one is for this beautiful people here, all of them,” he said.
The result carries Sundowns into the next stage of the competition and gives the South African champions another notable continental victory.
For Cardoso, however, the significance extended beyond the result, with the occasion providing an opportunity to honour Adams and celebrate a night he believes will remain part of Sundowns’ history.
“It’s a big, big one,” Cardoso said. “This one will stay in the history forever.”