Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has urged his players to demonstrate strong “character” when they face AS FAR in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, May 17.
Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 CAT (14:00 GMT).
The South African champions head into the final hoping to salvage silverware after a disappointing end to their domestic title defence, which was dented by a 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy in their final Betway Premiership fixture on May 12.
That result left Sundowns three points clear of Orlando Pirates, who still have two games in hand and require just one win to dethrone the reigning champions.
Their continental campaign has also been inconsistent, with just two wins from six group-stage matches and a 2-0 defeat to Stade Malien in the second leg of the quarter-finals raising concerns about form.
However, Cardoso’s men responded in the semi-finals by overcoming ES Tunis 1-0 both home and away, securing their place in a second consecutive CAF Champions League final.
“The season is not over. The season still has two more matches to be played. It’s now time to get the energy as soon as possible for the weekend,” Cardoso said.
“The boys are surely going to show another proof of character. We’ll try to recover them as much as possible so that they can produce a good match in this Champions League final.”
Opponents AS FAR arrive in the final having reached only their second-ever appearance in the competition’s showpiece, last lifting the continental title in 1985.
The Moroccan side impressed in the knockout stages, holding Al Ahly to two draws in the group phase before eliminating reigning champions Pyramids FC in the quarter-finals.
They suffered only their second defeat in 14 matches when they lost 1-0 to RS Berkane in the second leg of the semi-finals, but progressed thanks to a 2-0 first-leg advantage.
AS FAR head coach Alexandre Santos acknowledged the pressure of the occasion but stressed his team’s confidence going into the final.
“Pressure exists in every final, but it can become a positive motivation,” Santos said.
“When you reach the final, it means you deserve to be there… and we will enter the match looking for a positive result.”
