Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has explained why he is refusing to read into Al-Ahli Saudi FC’s recent form ahead of Saturday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup showdown at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
It is a clash of CAF Champions League holders and AFC Champions League elite kings at this stage of the Intercontinental Cup, referred to as the FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup. The two teams will be bidding to qualify for the FIFA Challenger Cup to meet either the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners, Deportivo Toluca FC of Mexico or the 2026 Copa Libertadores champions.
The victor of that round will set up a date with European champions Paris Saint-Germain [PSG] in December’s Intercontinental final.
Sundowns and Al-Ahli will be meeting for the first time. Interestingly, the Saudi Pro League side is a former home to Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, who was in charge between September 2022 and June 2023.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COACH MIGUEL CARDOSO UNMOVED BY AL AHLI’S FORM
Al-Ahli arrived in Tshwane with a record of two wins, as many defeats and a draw in their last five games across different competitions. They clash with Betway Premiership leaders Sundowns, whose recent form reads of four victories and a draw. But Cardoso plays down their opponents’ form.
“This team is back-to-back champions of Asia. They changed a few players, as you know. They changed the squad, and three very strong players went away. But others on the same level came in. They changed a quality coach, and another quality coach came in.
“You also look at our team from last year, and you will see there are three or four players that were high quality who will not play this match. We obviously also brought in quality players.”
Some prominent Al-Ahli players include captain and Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and England 2026 FIFA World Cup striker Ivan Toney. Defender Roger Ibanez, who was at the World Cup with Brazil, is also an Al-Ahli player, together with compatriot Galeno, formerly with FC Porto.
“I confess to you that I would like to play this competition later in the season 100 percent. If you ask me, I would like to play it later in the season because I think we will be more strong as the season goes forward,” Cardoso went on.
“But that’s a moment where we are, and we have to take ourselves to the limit, and whatever games were played by both teams recently will not speak for what will be played on the four lines tomorrow [Saturday].”
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